Healthy Start Scheme

The Healthy Start Scheme enables eligible pregnant women and families with children under the age of four who meet the qualifying criteria to claim pre-loaded Healthy Start cards that can be used to purchase milk, fruit and vegetables or infant formula milk.

In addition to the pre-paid card, those entitled to the Scheme may also avail of free vitamins.

Not everyone who is entitled to the Healthy Start Scheme in Northern Ireland is claiming the support that is on offer. In May 2024, uptake of the Scheme was just over 50%.

This Scheme provides financial support to eligible families to enable purchase of products which will help provide additional healthy nutrition for growing children, including:

  • plain cow’s milk
  • infant formula based on cow’s milk
  • fresh, dried, and tinned pulses (e.g. peas, beans, or lentils)
  • fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables

In April 2022, the previous paper voucher scheme was replaced with a prepaid card and all applications are now made online. Cards are topped up every 4 weeks and recipients will receive one of the following rates:

  • £4.25 each week of pregnancy from the 10th week
  • £8.50 each week for children from birth to age 1
  • £4.25 each week for children between 1 and 4 (Money will stop when the child turns 4, or if recipients no longer receive the qualifying benefits)

Vitamins are available for pregnant women, breastfeeding women with baby under one year and children under 4. Vitamins come in an 8-week supply and are issued by the Business Services Organisation directly to the claimant via post.

For more information and to apply for Healthy Start (including if you’re not a British citizen but your child is) visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk.

If you are unable to apply online, you can call the NHS Healthy Start helpline on 0300 330 7010.