What is the Healthy Start scheme?

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

You can use your card to buy:

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

You can also use your card to collect:

Healthy Start Maternal vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Healthy Start vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old

What you could get

• £8.50 each week for children from birth to 1
• £4.25 each week for children between 1 and 4
• £4.25 each week of your pregnancy from the 10th week

Your money will stop when your child is 4, or if you no longer receive benefits.

Using your card

You’ll receive your card by post. It’ll come with your first payment on it. Money will be automatically added to your card every 4 weeks. Before you use your card, you need to activate it before you use it in a shop.

To activate your card, get your PIN, hear your balance, or to report your card as lost, damaged, or stolen, you can contact National Healthy Start on 0300 330 2090. This phone line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you require an interpreter, please call 0300 330 7010 or email [email protected] 

You will need your: 

• card
• date of birth
• client ID (located at the top of the letter that came with your card)

Find your PIN

You need to know your PIN before you use your card in a shop. You can find out your PIN when you call to activate your card.  If you did not give us an email address or a phone number, then you will receive a PIN in the post. Your PIN will be sent out 2 days after your card is sent to you.

Checking your balance

You can check your balance at any cashpoint. You will need your PIN to check your balance at a cashpoint. You cannot withdraw cash.

How to access this service:

Please apply online by clicking the following link https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/apply-for-healthy-start/where-you-live 

To apply, you will 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 (you must enter the same information that’s on this letter)

Fresh Futures can provide telephone support for anyone who is unable to access the online application form. Please contact: 01484 415465

Collection Points

To collect your free vitamins, you’ll have to show your Healthy Start card as proof of your entitlement. You can collect your vitamins from over 40 distribution centres across North & South Kirklees. Please see collection points attached or visit the link below – Just enter your postcode to find your nearest pick-up point.

Please click HERE to visit the official Healthy Start page or click on the below links to view collection points.

View Kirklees Health Centres Collection Points

View North Kirklees Collection Points 

View South Kirklees Collection Points