The Healthy Start scheme offers funds worth £4.25 per week to pregnant women and children (0-4 years) who are in low-income families, as well as to all pregnant women under the age of 18. Funds can be used to purchase fruit, vegetables, milk and infant formula. Eligible families with a baby under the age of 1 receive £8.50 per week.
Analysis of NHS digital figures by the Local Government Association, which represents more than 350 councils in England and Wales, has found that: 'In March 2022 alone, 143,000 eligible families missed out on the vouchers...Around one in three people eligible for the Healthy Start Vouchers had not claimed for them....The vouchers have failed to reflect rises in food prices with the cost of staple items'. It recommends'..Auto-enrolment of the Healthy Start scheme. A shift from an “opt in” to an “opt out” registration system through an automated process would remove any barriers families face when applying online...The Government should invest in an awareness raising campaign to promote uptake of the voucher amongst eligible families. This could be undertaken using the underspend from the scheme. '
The Healthy Start Website has full details on how the scheme currently works.
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