New healthy food support launches

The new Best Start Foods payment in Scotland, which replaces the UK Government’s Healthy Start paper vouchers with a new payment card,  is now open for applications.

Pregnant women and families with babies and children receiving certain benefits are to be offered increased access to healthy foods through the payment.

The card, which works in a similar way to bank cards, can be used to buy a variety of healthy foods including milk and infant formula, fruit and vegetables, pulses and eggs.

Eligible families on low income benefits will get £17.00 on their card every four weeks during pregnancy and for any children between one and three years old. For babies up to the age of one, the payment increases to £34.00.

More information can be found at mygov.scot/benefits/best-start/ or by calling 0800 182 2222.