More than 200,000 parents missing out on up to £442 free cash – how to get it

HUNDREDS of thousands of families could be missing out on up to £442 free cash every year.

The help comes as part of the Healthy Start Scheme where parents on low income can claim money towards food shopping.

Up to 207,000 parents across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are missing out on hundreds of pounds every year.

That's equal to only 64% of eligible adults taking part in the scheme.

The Healthy Start Scheme helps families struggling to keep up with costs by dishing out prepaid cards.

These are for parents to spend at a range of supermarkets and shops, replacing vouchers.

Those on benefits or low income with small children can use the cash to help pay for milk, vegetables, fruit and more.

You'll need to be more than 10 weeks pregnant to claim, but women or men who have children under four will be eligible too.

They normally need to be on at least one of the following benefits:

• 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.

Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, said: “Debilitating food price rises are making it incredibly challenging for low-income young families to afford a healthy diet. This is extremely concerning given how important good nutrition is for young children’s growth and development.

"Healthy Start is a highly-targeted scheme that should be helping families most in need, but pitifully low uptake levels mean there are families all over the country who are missing out on this statutory scheme.” 

Here's more information about it.

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 was replaced this year 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.

This includes:

• 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?

You can can go onto the government website to apply.

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

There's also an option to 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.

Recent figures also show that 27% of UK households with kids under the age of four experienced food insecurity this January.

But the scheme could help reduce that figure, so make sure you check whether you're eligible if it applies to you.

Scotland’s equivalent scheme, Best Start Foods, is currently being claimed by 88% of eligible parents.

If you live in Scotland you can find out more about how to claim and eligibility on the government website.