Image: ESCC

East Sussex parents missing out on Healthy Start funds

As the cost of living crisis continues to grip, East Sussex County Council is urging families to check if they are eligible for help to buy milk and food through the NHS Healthy Start initiative. Nick Terdre reports.

Parents in East Sussex may be missing out on extra funds for milk, fruit and vegetables under the NHS Healthy Start initiative, East Sussex County Council warns.

Women who are over 10 weeks pregnant as well as families with a child under four and who are in receipt of certain benefits can apply for the scheme, which provides funds to buy milk, fruit and vegetables, and obtain free vitamins.

It is estimated that over 1,400 eligible families in East Sussex are missing out on at least £320,000 of available funding every year. Of this £85,000 is reckoned to be going unclaimed by eligible families in Hastings and £71,000 in Wealden.

Parents in Rother and Lewes are failing to claim at least £46,000 and £48,000 respectively each year, while in Eastbourne there is an estimated £68,000 available for those who qualify.

Image: NHS

Those who qualify will be sent a Healthy Start card with money loaded on it that can be used in shops such as supermarkets, convenience stores, petrol stations and pharmacies that display the Mastercard symbol and sell healthy food and milk, ESCC says. The card is topped up automatically once a month.

Pregnant women are eligible for £4.25 a week (from the 10th week of their pregnancy) and families with young children £8.50 a week for children up to one year old and £4.25 for children between one and four.

The card can be used to buy plain liquid cow’s milk; fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables; fresh, dried, and tinned pulses; and infant formula milk based on cow’s milk.

It can also be used get Healthy Start women’s vitamin tablets and children’s vitamin drops for free.

“The NHS Healthy Start scheme supports young families and those who are pregnant to access healthy food, milk and vitamins,” said Darrell Gale, East Sussex Director of Public Health.

“Good nutrition is very important for pregnant women and young children and the scheme helps families to make healthy food choices.

“I would urge pregnant women and families with children under four to check their eligibility for this handy prepaid card.”

More information on Healthy Start and details of how to apply here.

Also in: Health Matters