- You are on income support - or you get...
- Get Job seeker's allowance (income-based) - or you ..
- Get child tax credit - but with an income of less than
£14,495 for the year 2007-2008
- If you are under the age of eighteen and are pregnant,
you are also entitled to the vouchers.
If you qualify as above, then pregnant mothers can
get a £2.80 voucher each week, and each baby up to the age of one
year gets vouchers to the value of £5.60 each week. Where
there is a child between the ages of one and four years, the there
is a voucher for £2.80 for each child.So
- providing that you meet the requirements above, how do you go
about getting the vouchers?
You simply need to get the leaflet 'Healthy Start' which
also has an application form at the back for you to fill in. Part of the
form also has to be filled in by a health visitor, midwife or doctor before
it is sent off.
You can apply for Healthy Start at any time - for
your children. If you are applying as a pregnant mother, then apply
when you are ten weeks pregnant.
Everyone knows - or should know - that healthy eating normally
includes a good variety of fresh fruit and vegetables. This scheme is designed
to hep put this into practice. The Healthy Start vouchers can only be used for
the foods outlined above, and can be exchanged at those shops that are part of
the scheme! Foods available under the scheme include cow's milk, infant formula
milk, fresh fruit and vegetables. There are a wide range of shops that are part
of the scheme ranging from the local corner shop through to the large
supermarkets. Your healthcare professional will also be able to tell you where
you can obtain the free vitamins and supplements.
There is a help line set up specially for this scheme -
0845-607-6823.
How and When?
You will start to get your vouchers once you have sent in your
completed form. Don't forget that you also have to have part of the form filled
in by a health care professional (such as a a health visitor, midwife or
doctor). Once the form has been sent off, you should hear back within two weeks.
You will then start to get your vouchers every four weeks.
It really is important that you fill in the form correctly and
fully. If this sort of thing winds you up, then get a friend to help. There is a
good guide to filling in the Healthy Start application form within the leaflet.
You can get the leaflet by phoning the helpline number 0845 607 6823.
IT IS worth the hassle of applying and filling in the
form for the Healthy Start scheme. For instance, if you are pregnant and have a
child of two years, then the scheme is worth £5.60 a week!
|
