Families in Babergh urged to claim Healthy Start support

05/06/26

Families across Babergh are being encouraged to check if they are eligible for the Healthy Start Scheme – with a recent increase in payment levels putting even more money into the hands of those who need it most.

Despite uptake of the scheme rising from 50% in 2022 to 77% in 2024, there are still over 1,000 eligible families in Suffolk failing to claim support available to them. This means an estimated £1 million over four years is currently going unclaimed.

Healthy Start is a national programme which provides vital financial support to pregnant women and families with young children to help them access healthy food, milk and vitamins.

From April 2026, weekly payments have risen to:
•   £4.65 per week for those who are more than 10 weeks pregnant
•   £9.30 per week for children under one year old
•   £4.65 per week for children aged one to four years

The payments are added to a prepaid Healthy Start card every four weeks and can be spent in a wide range of shops, including supermarkets, convenience stores and market stalls.

Each eligible family can receive around £1,000 over the first four years of a child’s life, helping to cover the cost of essentials such as milk, fruit, vegetables, pulses and infant formula. For families with more than one young child, the support available could amount to several thousand pounds over time. The scheme also provides access to free vitamins to support healthy development.

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils are working alongside Suffolk County Council to raise awareness of the scheme locally and help ensure eligible families access the support available to them. Some eligible residents may also be contacted by the council with information about support to help them apply.

The scheme is open to those who are at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four, and who are receiving certain benefits such as Universal Credit, Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance. Some groups, including pregnant under-18s, may also qualify regardless of benefits.
Eligible families can also collect free Healthy Start vitamins from Suffolk Family Hubs, and additional support is available for some families who are not eligible for public funds.

Residents can quickly check their eligibility and apply online via the Healthy Start website or call the Healthy Start helpline for support, including translation services.

Visit the financial wellbeing page on the Babergh website to find out more about what support is on offer.