Healthy Start payment checker
Healthy Start pays a weekly amount for milk, fruit, vegetables and formula to families on a qualifying benefit, under the gov.uk Healthy Start rules. It is £4.65 a week from the 10th week of pregnancy, £9.30 a week for each child under 1, and £4.65 a week for each child aged 1 to 3.
How much is Healthy Start worth a week?
Healthy Start is a weekly amount loaded onto a prepaid card to spend on milk, fruit, vegetables, pulses and infant formula. The amount depends on pregnancy and the ages of a claimant's children. Per gov.uk, a pregnancy is worth £4.65 a week from the 10th week. Each child under 1 is worth £9.30 a week, double the older rate, and each child aged 1 up to 4 is worth £4.65 a week.
To qualify, a claimant needs to be at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, and the household needs a qualifying benefit, most often Universal Credit with earnings under the monthly limit. A claimant who is pregnant and under 18 can claim without a qualifying benefit. The card is topped up every 4 weeks, so the weekly figures above add up to a payment four times as large each time. The NHS Healthy Start service decides an award, and a calculator result is not evidence of entitlement.
How much would a family with a baby and a toddler get?
A family with one baby under 1 and one toddler aged 2 gets £9.30 plus £4.65, which is £13.95 a week, per gov.uk. That is £55.80 on the card every 4 weeks. If the parent were also newly pregnant, another £4.65 a week would be added once they reach the 10th week.
Common questions
How much is Healthy Start worth a week?
You get £4.65 a week from the 10th week of pregnancy, £9.30 a week for each child from birth to age 1, and £4.65 a week for each child aged 1 up to 4. The money is loaded onto a prepaid card every 4 weeks.
Who can get Healthy Start?
You qualify if you are at least 10 weeks pregnant, or have a child under 4, and you or your family get a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit with earnings below the income limit, Income Support, or Pension Credit. If you are pregnant and under 18 you can claim even without a qualifying benefit.
What can I spend it on?
The card can be used for plain cow's milk, fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables, pulses, and infant formula based on cow's milk. It can also be used for vitamins. It cannot be used for other groceries.
Why do children under 1 count double?
Children under 1 are worth £9.30 a week, twice the standard rate, because infant formula and milk are a large cost in the first year. Once a child turns 1 the amount drops to £4.65 a week until they turn 4.
Does Healthy Start affect my other benefits?
No. Healthy Start is extra help on top of your benefits and does not reduce your Universal Credit or any other payment. It is worth claiming as soon as you are eligible, since payments only start from when you apply.
How much would a family with a baby and a toddler get?
A family with one child under 1 and one child aged 1 to 3 gets £9.30 plus £4.65 a week, £13.95 a week, per gov.uk. That comes to £55.80 on the card every 4 weeks. If the parent is also newly pregnant, another £4.65 a week is added once they reach the 10th week. The NHS Healthy Start service confirms the award; a result here is not evidence of entitlement.
Sources & Rate Verification
Rates verified against official statutory guidance on 6 September 2026.