Healthy Start

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. 

If eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. Your benefit is added onto this card every 4 weeks. 

You can use your card to buy: 

  • plain liquid cow’s milk
  • fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables
  • fresh, dried and tinned pulses
  • infant formula milk based on cow’s milk 

You can also use your card to collect: 

  • Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old 

How to apply

If you get Universal Credit

If you get Universal Credit, you can apply online if:  

you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under 4 years old 

your family’s monthly ‘take-home pay for this period’ is £408 or less from employment. 

If you get Child Tax Credit

If you get Child Tax Credit, you can apply online if: 

  • you have at least one child under 4 years old
  • your family’s annual income is £16,190 or less 

If you don't claim benefits

Some children may be eligible for free vitamins if the family are not on benefits. See your health visitor for more details. 

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant and have other children who are all aged 4 or older, you’ll need to apply by email or phone. 

What you'll need to apply online

To apply online, you’ll need your: 

  • name
  • address
  • date of birth
  • National Insurance number
  • baby’s due date (if you’re pregnant)
  • benefit award letter if you’re over 18 – make sure you enter the exact details shown on your benefit award letter 

Healthy Start Vitamins  

Young children may not get enough vitamin A and D even if they’re eating well. If you’re pregnant and breastfeeding, you may not get enough vitamin C or D or folic acid. 

You can use your Healthy Start card to get these important vitamins for free.  

These come as NHS Healthy Start tablets and drops for children. 

They do not contain: 

  • milk
  • egg
  • gluten
  • soya
  • peanut residues 

They’re suitable for vegetarians and halal diets. 

You can get the vitamin tablets while you’re pregnant and up to your baby’s 1st birthday.  

They contain: 

  • folic acid which lowers the chance of babies having spinal problems
  • vitamin C which helps the body’s soft tissue
  • vitamin D which helps babies’ bones to develop properly 

How to collect your vitamins 

To collect your free vitamins, you’ll have to show your Healthy Start card. In Sheffield, vitamins are now available from every local Family Hub. 

If you don’t qualify 

If you don’t qualify for Healthy Start, vitamins are also available to buy at low cost. 

More information

For further information about Healthy Start please ask your midwife or health visitor. You can also call 0845 607 6823 or visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk.