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Healthy start

Did you know you may be eligible for a FREE Healthy Start Card with money to spend on milk and healthy food if you are on certain benefits?

The value could be over £1,000 per child over their lifetime, if claimed from pregnancy to the child’s 4th birthday.

Watch the Healthy Start video

What is Healthy Start?

Healthy Start Scheme is a national programme helping low-income families to be healthy. Giving children a great start in life.

Health Start pre-paid card

If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you could get help to buy healthy food and milk. Items like fresh, tinned or frozen fruit, vegetables and pulses such as lentils and beans, cow’s milk and first infant formula.

If you are eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in supermarkets and other grocery stores. We will add your Healthy Start money onto this card every 4 weeks.

What do you get?

You will get money added onto your card every four weeks to spend on certain food and milk.

  • £4.25 per week if you are pregnant (from week 10)
  • £8.50 per week for each baby under the age of 1
  • £4.25 per week for each child aged between 1 and 3
  • Free vitamins

Who is eligible for the Healthy Start scheme?

  • On Universal Credit and your household’s monthly ‘take home pay’ is £408 or less from employment
  • Receive Child Tax Credit and your household’s annual income is less than £16,190
  • Receive Income Related Employment & Support Allowance
  • Receive Income-based Jobseeker’s allowance
  • Receive Pension Credit (including Child Addition)
  • Receive Working Tax Credit run-on

Under 18s

If you are under 18 and pregnant, you will qualify even if you do not get any benefits.

Where can you use your Healthy Start Card?

Healthy start can be used anywhere that sells fruit, veg and milk and accepts card payments.

How to apply for Healthy Start

Online

Online by visiting the NHS Healthy Start website if you:

  • Are on Universal Credit and Household’s monthly ‘take home pay’ is £408 from employment
  • Receive Child Tax Credit and household annual income is less than £16190
  • Receive Child Tax Credit and child(ren) under the age of 4

By phone or email

Over the phone by calling 0300 330 7010 or by emailing healthy.start@nhsba.nhs.uk if you:

  • Are pregnant and under 18 (not on benefits)
  • Receive Child Tax Credit and child(ren) over the age of 4
  • Receive Income Related Employment & Support Allowance
  • Receive Income-based Jobseeker’s allowance
  • Receive Pension Credit (including Child Addition)
  • Receive Working Tax Credit run-on

Once you receive you card you will need to call 0300 330 7010 to activate it.

Healthy Start Vitamins

In Tower Hamlets, all children under the age of 4 and all pregnant and breastfeeding women and up to 1 year post-natal are eligible for free Healthy Start vitamins. These can be collected from all Children and Family Centres and there is no need to apply. Please bring your Heathy Start card if you have one.

The vitamins are specifically designed for pregnant and breastfeeding women and growing children.

  • Children will receive vitamin A, C and D in liquid form.
  • Women will receive Vitamin C, D and folic acid in tablet form

Use your location to find your nearest collection point

Support

Children’s and Family Centre

Tel: 020 7364 6495 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)

Email: fis@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Healthy Start

Website: Healthy Start

Tel: 0300 330 7010 (Find out about call charges)

Email: healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk

Speak to your midwife, health visitor, social prescriber at your GP surgery who might provide further support or signposting,

Help available through the council

Tower Hamlets Resident Support Outreach Team

Do you need help to claim Universal Credit or any welfare assistance? To book an appointment, please contact LBTHResidentsupport@towerhamlets.gov.uk 

Tower Hamlets Financial Support Team

Are you a private rented tenant in Tower Hamlets with rent or council tax arrears? Our friendly Financial Support Team can do a free Financial Health check for you.

To book an appointment please call 020 7364 3680 or 020 7364 4080. You can also email us at LBTHFinancialsupport@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

The Local Offer

The Local Offer is an online resource that is available to everyone. This online resource outlines information on services for families in Tower Hamlets in one central place.