Applying online
You can apply online if:
- you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under 4 years old
- your family’s monthly ‘take-home pay’ (also called ‘earned income’) is £408 or less from employment
- you get Universal Credit
To apply online, you’ll need your:
- name
- address
- date of birth
- National Insurance number
- baby’s due date (if you’re pregnant)
- Universal Credit statement
The details you use to apply for Healthy Start must match the details on your Universal Credit claim.
Payments should start once your child has been verified and appears on your Universal Credit statement. This can take up to 8 weeks after your child is verified. Make sure your child is verified within 12 weeks of the estimated due date to receive the correct payment amount.
Go to your Universal Credit account (opens in a new tab) to check:
- your address details, including your postcode
- all of your children are named and verified on your Universal Credit claim
Make sure that your details are up to date with DWP – you may wish to contact them to check or update your details before you apply.
Applying by email or phone
You can apply by email or phone if you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant, or have at least one child under 4 years old, and get Pension Credit (which includes the child addition).
You can apply by either:
- emailing healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
- calling 0300 330 7010
Phone lines are open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Find out about call charges (opens in a new tab).
If you’re under 18 and not on benefits
You cannot apply online. You can apply by email or phone if you’re under 18 and more than 10 weeks pregnant. You qualify until your baby is born, and you do not need to receive any of the qualifying benefits.
You’ll need to provide:
- your baby’s due date
- a copy of an official document – birth certificate, passport, driving licence, immigration visa
- your NHS number
- your National Insurance number
After your baby is born, you will only continue to qualify for Healthy Start if you get the qualifying benefits. To make sure you continue to receive Healthy Start vouchers once your baby is born, you should:
- call us on 0300 330 7010
- inform Universal Credit by updating your online account
- make sure all of your children are named and verified on your Universal Credit claim
- reapply online and make a new claim
If you do not do this, your payment will stop 4 weeks after your baby’s due date.
If you’re not a British citizen but your child is
You might be eligible for Healthy Start depending on your immigration status.
You can get Healthy Start if all the following are true:
- you have at least 1 British child under 4 years old – check if your child is automatically a British citizen (opens in a new tab) if you’re not sure
- your family earns £408 or less per month after tax
- you cannot claim ‘public funds’ (opens in a new tab) (for example, benefits) – either because of your immigration status or because you do not have an immigration status
Your online immigration status (opens in a new tab) will say if you cannot claim public funds. You might also have a letter from the Home Office about it.
To apply for Healthy Start, please email healthystartNRPF@nhsbsa.nhs.uk to request an application form. Only use this email address if you think you cannot claim public funds because of your immigration status.
If your child’s other parent lives with you and has access to public funds, they must apply for Healthy Start. They can do this by using one of the application routes outlined on this page.