The Scottish Government has announced that prepaid cards which help families buy healthy food for children still have £2.3 million worth of payments on them to be spent. Social security minister Ben Macpherson said that since their introduction in 2019, more than 7,000 Best Start Food cards have never been activated.
He added that more than 3,000 have been activated but no money has been spent on them and is urging anyone who has a card to check the balance and make sure they can use them. Eligible to parents, carers or guardians with children under three who are on certain benefits, Best Start Food payments are delivered through a prepaid card and are topped up with up to £36 for each eligible child every four weeks.
Social Security Scotland has already sent letters to some cardholders encouraging them to find and use their cards.
Mr Macpherson said: “The Scottish Government is committed to doing what it can to make sure that money reaches the people who need it most, especially during this cost-of-living crisis. People are entitled to the money which may have built up on their cards.
“So we are appealing to people who applied for Best Start Foods to look out their card, make sure it’s activated and use their balance.”
Best Start Foods cards work like any other chip and Pin card, and can be used in supermarkets and shops to buy healthy food, milk and formula.
Shona Singer of Aberdeenshire North Foodbank, said: “We know from speaking to the people who use our service that the card can make a huge difference to their lives.
“We support any measure which allows people greater access to affordable healthy food.
“People could be sitting on sums of money which could help enormously and I’d urge people who think they’ve received a card to look it out, check their balance and start using it.”
What is Best Start Foods?
Best Start Foods is a prepaid card that can help you buy healthy foods like milk or fruit, if one of the following applies to you.
For example:
- you're pregnant
- you have a child under three years of age
The amount you get on your prepaid card will change depending on the age of your child.
The Best Start Foods payments are:
- £18 every 4 weeks during pregnancy - the payment amount is per pregnancy. This means the payment amount is the same whether you're pregnant with one baby, or if you're having twins or triplets
- £36 every 4 weeks from your child being born up until they're one year old
- £18 every 4 weeks when your child is between the ages of one and 3 years old
Best Start Foods is paid to help people buy healthy foods, including:
- plain cow's milk
- first infant formula
- fresh, frozen or tinned fruit or vegetables
- fresh or dried pulses like lentils, beans, peas and barley
- fresh eggs
These foods are also listed on the back of the Best Start Foods card.
Where to use your Best Start Foods card
Best Start Foods card can be used in large supermarkets and smaller local shops.
As long as the shop sells the healthy foods listed on the card and displays the Mastercard logo, you can use your Best Start Foods card there.
You can also use your Best Start Foods card to buy healthy food online.
Find out more or apply on MyGov.Scot here.
To keep up to date with the latest benefits news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out daily, Monday to Friday - sign up here.
READ NEXT
Check how much of the £1,350 cost of living payments you are due this year
- Specific group of people who will not receive new £301 cost of living payment due this Spring
New interactive map helps people find free warm spaces in their area just by entering postcode
DWP rule change this month for couples working 24 hours or more each week between them
New cost of living payment warning to people due money over next few months
