Convenience stores across Scotland are urging the thousands of prepaid food card holders to use it in their shops as they join forces with the organisation behind the scheme to boost its use. Social Security Scotland’s Best Start Foods card, which can help expectant mothers and new parents buy healthy food for their children, can be used in more than 2,200 local shops.
Those shops are set to promote the scheme as part of the partnership with Scottish Grocers Federation Healthy Living Programme, and will encourage the 40,000 cardholders to use it in their local shop.
Parents and guardians are given up to £39.60 every four weeks and can use it to buy things like milk, infant formula, fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables, pulses, and fresh eggs. Among the chains involved in the new scheme are Spar, Keystore, Nisa and Premier.
The network of small shops promoting Best Start Foods spans the whole of Scotland including the Shetland Isles in the north to the Scottish Borders in the south and from Harris, Stornoway in the west to Peterhead in the east.
Commenting on the partnership, David Wallace, chief executive of Social Security Scotland, said: “Local convenience shops can sometimes be the lifeblood of their communities. This initiative means owners and staff can offer support to their customers, ensuring they use all of the financial support available to them.
“I would encourage anyone who has a Best Start Foods card to check their balance and to make sure they are using it regularly. As well as the smaller local stores the card can be used in most big supermarkets and online.”
Kathryn Neil, Programme Director of the Scottish Grocers’ Federation’s Healthy Living Programme said: “We are delighted to collaborate on raising the awareness and uptake of the Best Start Foods scheme in convenience stores. This positive partnership presents the opportunity for Healthy Living Partnership to join up with other Scottish Government policies.
“Healthy Living Partnership’s relationships with the convenience and wholesale sector allows us to deliver the information to consumers in the most deprived areas of Scotland and reaching those who are eligible.”
What is Best Start Foods?
Best Start Foods is a prepaid card that can be used in shops or online to buy healthy foods like milk or fruit.
It is:
- £19.80 every 4 weeks during pregnancy - the payment amount is per pregnancy
- £39.60 every 4 weeks from birth until the age of one
- £19.80 every 4 weeks for children between the ages of one and 3 years old
Applicants under the age of 18 will be eligible for Best Start Foods during pregnancy and up until their child turns one, without the need to be in receipt of benefits.
Applicants over 18 need to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit. At present, income thresholds also apply for some of these qualifying benefits, however, these income thresholds will be removed by the end of 2023-24.
How to check balance on prepaid card
People can check the balance on their prepaid card through their online allpay account which they were given when they received their Best Start Foods card or by calling allpay on 0808 196 1687.
To check balance at a cash machine, people should enter their 4-digit PIN, as if using a bank card.
Find out more about Best Start Foods on mygov.scot here.
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