Following a successful high court challenge from a mother with a one-year old baby, all British children under the age of four who previously were not eligible for Healthy Start vouchers due to their parent’s immigration status, will now be entitled to the vouchers if their family meets the financial criteria to claim welfare benefits.
The Healthy Start scheme aims to reduce health inequalities by providing £4.25 in vouchers per week for milk, infant formula, and fruit and vegetables, to families on low incomes with children up to four years old. Pregnant women are also eligible to claim.
This is a hugely important step to support thousands more families on low incomes to make heathier food choices and give their children as healthy start as possible. We welcome this change and future reviews to expand the eligibility further.