Thousands of families are missing out on a free food scheme across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

Nearly 200,000 families are missing out on the NHS Healthy Start scheme which offers support to pregnant women or those with young children who are on a low income and receiving qualifying benefits.

Those eligible could get up to £442 in free supermarket vouchers, which can be used to buy milk, infant formula and fruit, as well as getting free vitamins. 

They will be sent a Healthy Start card with money on which can be used in UK supermarkets and the benefit will be added onto the card every four weeks.

Then people who are eligible can get top-ups of £4.25 or £8.50 each week depending on their child’s age and those under 18 and more than 10 weeks pregnant can qualify for the scheme until their baby is born, without receiving qualifying benefits.

In June 2024, there were 186,039 eligible people who were not signed up to the Healthy Start scheme according to NHS data.

Despite a government target of 75 per cent of eligible people signing up to the scheme in 2023, there is currently a 66 per cent uptake across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Those who get Income Support, Universal Credit and do not get Child Tax Credit or Pension Credit (including the child addition) and are at least ten weeks pregnant or have at least one child under four years old can apply by email or phone.

You can also apply online or by email or phone if you get Child Tax Credit and your family’s income is £16,190 or less and you do not get Working Tax Credit, or are getting income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Last year, Which? head of consumer rights and food policy Sue Davies said: “The Healthy Start scheme has potential to help many hard-up families who are struggling with the unrelenting cost of living crisis and have had to skip meals or use food banks as a result.

“There is an important role for the government to expand the scheme and increase its value, but we're also calling on supermarkets to help customers by better promoting what is available and providing extra top-ups for those who use the scheme.

“Supermarkets must ensure everyone has access to basic, affordable food ranges, especially in areas where they are most needed.”