Plymouth families urged to take up free food voucher scheme
From April, the voucher value will increase to £4.25 per week
Last updated 26th Mar 2021
Families in Plymouth are being urged to check if they are eligible for the Healthy Start Scheme, which offers free vouchers to be spent on food.
Just over half of eligible Plymouth families are already getting additional support through the scheme which gives out vouchers that can be spent on milk; fresh, frozen and tinned fruit, vegetables and pulses; and infant formula milk.
From April 2021, the voucher value will increase to £4.25 per week. Several supermarkets are also topping up the value of the vouchers. Sainsbury's has announced it is boosting Healthy Start vouchers by £2 with other supermarkets announcing top-ups to the scheme including Tesco (£1), Waitrose (£1.50), Co-op (£1) and Lidl (£1.15) and Iceland (£1).
Families in receipt of certain benefits could claim up to a whopping £660 per year to spend on healthy food. Free vitamins are also available.
You can check if you should be receiving the vouchers here: www.healthystart.nhs.uk.
Councillor Jemima Laing, Plymouth City Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said:
"The pandemic has hit many people in Plymouth financially, so I would encourage everyone to check if they could be in line for extra support to help feed their family.
"The scheme is totally free and not only eases squeezed households budgets, but also helps families eat a more healthy diet, so it is a win-win situation."
Healthy Start vouchers are available to women who are at least 10 weeks pregnant and families with children under four years old if the family is receiving:
Income Support, or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or Child Tax Credit (with a family income of £16,190 or less per year), Pension Credit or Universal Credit (with a family take home pay of £408 or less per month)