Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert reveals how to get free food worth up to £442 a year from thousands of shops

MARTIN Lewis' MoneySavingExpert (MSE) team has revealed how thousands can get free food worth up to £442 a year.

It comes as estimates suggest that more than 215,000 people are missing out on the support.

In the most recent MSE Newsletter, the team said: "If you're on certain benefits and are pregnant or have a child under four (or three in Scotland), you can get between £17 and £36 a month to spend on healthy foods in 30,000 shops nationwide."

Families eligible for help through the Healthy Start scheme (or Best Start scheme in Scotland) get prepaid cards to spend at a range of supermarkets and shops.

Healthy Start offers money to low-income families with small children to help pay for milk, vegetables, fruit and more.

The scheme offers out prepaid food cards to women who are more than 10 weeks pregnant or women or men who have children under four.

They typically must also be on certain benefits, including:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit with a family income of £16,190 or less per year
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit (with no earned income or total earned income of £408 or less per month for the family)

However, if you are under 18 and pregnant you can get the money, even if you don't receive any of the above benefits.

But the MSE team warns that some benefits may make you ineligible for the free vouchers.

The team said: "It's worth noting that if you're getting income-related ESA, you'll only be eligible for the vouchers while you're pregnant, not once your baby is born.

"To continue receiving them, you'll need to switch to universal credit."

How much are Healthy Start vouchers worth?

Each Healthy Start voucher is currently worth £4.25 a week, and over a year that adds up to £221.

It's worth double that if you have a child under the age of one as you'll be eligible for two vouchers each week, so it's up to £442.

There used to be paper vouchers, but that's just been replaced by a prepaid card, so you'll get the amounts added to that instead automatically every four weeks.

You can use the healthy start prepaid card at any location where Mastercard is accepted.

Previously, paper vouchers could be used at a wide variety of stores, but not all local shops, supermarkets or pharmacists for vitamins.

As long as the shop accepts Mastercard, you can use the card at:

• Supermarkets
• Convenience stores
• Grocery stores
• Drug stores and pharmacies
• Markets
• Dairy products stores
• Butcher shops
• Petrol stations

You can't use the prepaid card for online shopping, or to withdraw cash from an ATM, but you can check the balance at a cash machine.

You can use healthy start vouchers to buy a variety of items:

• Cow’s milk
• Fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables
• Infant formula milk
• Fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

And you can use the vouchers to get vitamins too.

How do I claim healthy start vouchers?

You can apply for the healthy start scheme online on the government website.

You can also print out a paper form from the Healthy Start website or you can request one from your GP or midwife.

Alternatively, you can request one from the healthy start helpline on 0345 607 6823. To apply, you will need your:

• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• National Insurance number
• Baby’s due date (if you’re pregnant)
• Venefit award letter if you’re over 18

Once you've applied online, you should receive your card within five to 10 working days.

What if I live in Scotland?

You can apply for the Best Start Foods scheme if you have a child under three years old (or are pregnant) AND you or your partner get any of the following benefits:

• Child tax credits and working tax credits (income from work must be less than £7,920 a year)
• Child tax credits (household income must be £17,005 a year or less)
• Housing benefit (household income from work must be less than £328 a week)
• Income-based jobseeker's allowance
• Income-related employment and support allowance
• Income support
• Pension credit
• Universal credit (household income from work must be £660 a month or less)

However, if you are under 18 and pregnant you can get the money, even if you don't receive any of the above benefits.

Each Best Start voucher is currently worth £4.50 a week, and over a year that adds up to £234.

It's worth double that if you have a child under the age of one as you'll be eligible for two vouchers each week, so it's up to £468.

You'll need to apply for the support on the MyGov.Scot website.