Healthy Start - Food and Vitamins

What is Healthy Start?

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 some UK shops. We’ll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks.

You can use your card to buy:

• plain liquid cow’s milk

• fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables

• fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

• infant formula milk based on cow’s milk

You can also use your card to collect:

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

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

How to apply?

If you get a qualifying benefit and are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have parental responsibility for at least one child under 4 years old.

You can apply online. 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)

Other support available

Kingston's Children's Centres are able to help you complete the Healthy Start application if you need support.

For broader cost of living support, please visit the cost of living page on Connected Kingston, and for more help with food and meals, please visit the Help with Food page.