In excess of 200,000 households across Great Britain are missing out on free food vouchers - with an estimated worth of over £880,000 - according to an investigation conducted by consumer champions at Which?
The Government's Healthy Start scheme allows eligible parties to pick up a prepaid card offering between £4.25 and £8.50 each week - up to £34 each month - to spend on groceries.
But a low uptake with regards to the scheme means that around £45million each and every year in extra support is being lost.
The Mirror reports that according to research from Which? the uptake of the Healthy Start scheme sits at just 63.9 per cent - lagging behind the Government's forecasted target of 75 per cent for last month. In comparison, a similar scheme across Scotland in the Best Starts Food roll out is claimed by around 88 per cent of those eligible.
The NHS Healthy Start scheme allows pregnant women and families with youngsters to claim food vouchers, should they have a low income of receive qualifying benefits. Those who are eligible can in-turn use the vouchers to buy fruit, vegetables, dairy milk infant formula and vitamins.
Which? says that its £45million calculation is based on the lowest voucher amount of £4.25 going unclaimed each week by in excess of 207,000 families. In reality however, the consumer group estimates that "much more" could be going unclaimed.
Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer rights and food policy, said: "The Healthy Start scheme has potential to help many hard-up families who are struggling with the unrelenting cost of living crisis and have had to skip meals or use food banks as a result. However, poor take-up means millions of pounds’ worth of help is going unclaimed.
"There is an important role for the government to expand the scheme and increase its value, but we're also calling on supermarkets to help customers by better promoting what is available and providing extra top-ups for those who use the scheme.
"Supermarkets also need to make it easier for all customers to work out which items offer the best value for money, by making sure their pricing is clear and easily comparable between items. Supermarkets must ensure everyone has access to basic, affordable food ranges, especially in areas where they are most needed."
Who's eligible for the Healthy Start Scheme?
The Healthy Start Scheme is available to people living in England, Northern Ireland and Wales and you have to be more than 10 weeks pregnant to access the help or have a child under the age of four years.
To get the help you will also need to be claiming at least one of the following benefits:
- Child tax credit - only if your annual family income is £16,190 or less
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance
- Pension credit - but only if you get the child element
- Universal credit - if your family earns £408 or less a month in take-home pay from employment
You can also apply if you are under 18 years and pregnant, even if you're not claiming any benefits, or you claim income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) and you're over 10 weeks pregnant.
Scotland's Best Start Foods scheme has similar but slightly different eligibility criteria.
In Scotland, you can claim if you're pregnant or have a child under three years old.
How much can you get from it?
Those eligible for the scheme In England, Wales and Northern Ireland can get:
- £4.25 a week for each week of pregnancy from the 10th week
- £8.50 a week for each child aged up to one year old
- £4.25 a week for each child between one and four years old
In Scotland, the amount you get paid depends on the age of your child.
These payments are:
- £18 every four weeks during pregnancy
- £36 every four weeks from your child being born up until they're one year old
- £18 every four weeks when your child is between the ages of one and three years old
With pregnancies, the Scottish Government says the payment is the "amount per pregnancy" which means the money you get is the same whether you're pregnant with one baby, or if you are having twins or triplets.
Where can I use the prepaid card?
According to the NHS website, you can use your prepaid card in most places that sell milk, infant formula, fruit, and vegetables.
This includes:
- supermarkets
- convenience stores
- grocery stores
- drug stores and pharmacies
- markets
- dairy products stores
- news dealers and newsstands
- freezer and locker meat provisioners (such as butcher shops)
- petrol stations
How do I apply for the Healthy Start Scheme?
If you claim Universal Credit then you can apply for the Healthy Start Scheme online through the NHS website.
To apply, you’ll 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
If you claim another eligible benefit then you can apply for the scheme by sending an email to healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk asking for an application form or over the phone by calling 0300 330 7010.
Phone lines for the Healthy Start Scheme phoneline are open from 38am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
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