Healthy Start scheme

Eligibility for Healthy Start

A pregnant woman (from 10 weeks) or a parent with a child under 4 may be eligible for Healthy Start if they meet certain benefit or income requirements.

Families receiving benefits

A pregnant woman or parent may qualify if they (or their partner) receive one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income based Employment and Support Allowance
• income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Child Tax Credit (with an annual household income of £16,190 or less and no entitlement to Working Tax Credit)
• Universal Credit (with earned income of £408 or less per month)
• Pension Credit

A pregnant woman with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) may still qualify if:

• their partner receives one of these benefits, or
• they are the dependent child of someone receiving one of these benefits

Pregnant women under 18

A woman aged under 18 may qualify from 10 weeks pregnant, even if she is not receiving benefits. She will only continue to qualify after the baby is born if she then meets the standard eligibility requirements.

Families with no recourse to public funds

Some families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) may be able to access Healthy Start through a separate eligibility route.

A parent may qualify in England and Wales if they meet all of the following conditions:

• they have at least one British child under 4 years old
• their household earns £408 or less per month after tax
• they have no recourse to public funds (for example, leave to remain with an NRPF condition or no lawful immigration status)

Further information is available in the government guidance on the Healthy Start NRPF extension.

Page updated: 22 June 2026