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SEND News - 17 November 2020

Do you qualify for Healthy Food vouchers?

According to the latest NHS figures, there are 8,700 Hertfordshire families who should be getting Healthy Start Vouchers and less than 3,400 are. And claiming couldn’t be easier!

If someone is at least 10 weeks pregnant or has a child under four years old, they could be entitled to Healthy Start Vouchers worth £3.10 per child per week, to spend on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, and instant formula milk. They can also use them to buy pulses and canned fruit and vegetable as long as they have no fat, salt, sugar or other flavouring added. The vouchers can be redeemed at local shops.

Those who are entitled to Healthy Start Vouchers will also get free vitamins designed to help pregnant and breastfeeding women and growing children.

Pregnant women and every child over one and under four years old can get one voucher every week. Children under one year old can get £6.20 per week.

To be eligible the claimant should be in receipt of certain means-tested benefits and they can check eligibility here.

They can also use the benefit-checker on the County Council’s website, and access free information about benefits that they might be missing-out on – www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits

For example, a parent with a new baby and a 3 year old could get vouchers worth almost £500 a year.

Someone who is pregnant and under 18 does not have to be in receipt of any benefits to qualify.

Take-up of the vouchers is very low, around 40 percent, so people should check if they are entitled as soon as possible to prevent missing out. Anyone can pick up an application leaflet at a GP’s or baby clinic. Alternatively they can phone for a form on 0345 607 6823 or download and print one from here.

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