Glossary · UK
What is Healthy Start Scheme?
An NHS scheme giving a prepaid card to qualifying pregnant women and families with young children to buy food and milk.
Full Definition
Healthy Start is a UK government scheme that helps lower-income pregnant women and families with children under four buy healthy food and milk. Eligible applicants receive a prepaid Healthy Start card, topped up at regular intervals, which can be spent on fruit, vegetables, pulses, plain milk and infant formula, and used to obtain free vitamins. Eligibility generally depends on being at least 10 weeks pregnant or having a young child, and on receiving a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit, Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, subject to income limits. The exact payment amounts and qualifying-income thresholds change over time, so check gov.uk or the NHS Healthy Start service for current figures rather than relying on older rates. It matters because it directly supports child nutrition and stretches a tight household budget. Because it is tied to means-tested benefits, applying for Universal Credit may also open access to Healthy Start.