The Best Start scheme consists of five different payments which provide financial help for pregnant women, and parents of young children. The Best Start scheme is not a public fund for immigration purposes.
The Best Start Foods grant provides assistance with costs of buying healthy foods such as fruit and milk. A parent can apply for a Best Start Foods grant when they become pregnant or up until their child is 3 years old. Grants are paid on a prepaid card every 4 weeks. The amount a person receives depends on the age of the child and is as follows:
The Best Start Foods grant is available to a person with no recourse to public funds. Other payments such as the Best Start Grant are usually not available to this group as they will not be in receipt of any of the qualifying benefits. However, where one of the child’s parents meets the eligibility criteria, the family will be able to access these payments and this will not cause a problem for a partner or child who is subject to a NRPF condition.
To qualify for Best Start Foods, a person must be on a low income and in receipt of qualifying benefits. As they cannot access the qualifying benefits, a person with no recourse to public funds, including a person seeking asylum, will need to demonstrate that they are on a low income and provide additional documentary evidence regarding their immigration status. People seeking asylum who are in receipt of asylum support may need to inform the Home Office if they are receiving assistance through the scheme and therefore should seek advice via Migrant Help before applying.
To be eligible for Best Start Foods, a person with NRPF must:
