How to apply

Applying online

If you get Universal Credit

You can apply online if:

• you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under 4 years old
• your family’s monthly ‘take-home pay’ (also called ‘earned income’) is £408 or less from employment

If you get Child Tax Credit

You may be eligible for Healthy Start if:

• your family’s annual income is £16,190 or less
• you do not get Working Tax Credit

Most people who get Child Tax Credit can apply online. You can apply online if you’re either:

• more than 10 weeks pregnant and have children under the age of 4
• not pregnant but have children under the age of 4

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant and have other children who are all aged 4 or older, you’ll need to apply by email or phone.

Child Tax Credit is ending on 5 April 2025

If you get Child Tax Credit, you’ll still be eligible for NHS Healthy Start payments if you move to Universal Credit and your take-home pay (also called ‘earned income’) is £408 or less.

To continue to get your NHS Healthy Start payments after you move to Universal Credit, there are 2 things you need to do:

1. Apply for Universal Credit within 16 weeks of your Child Tax Credit coming to an end.
2. Make sure all your children are listed as dependents and verified on your Universal Credit claim.

If we’ve sent you a text message asking for you to confirm your children’s first name, last name and date of birth before 5 April 2025, you can tell us by:

• using our online form
• calling 0300 330 7010

Phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8pm to 6pm (except public holidays).

Find out more about call charges (opens in a new tab).

To apply online, you’ll need your:

• name
• address
• date of birth
• National Insurance number
• baby’s due date (if you’re pregnant)
• benefit award letter if you’re over 18 – make sure you enter the exact details shown on your benefit award letter

Make sure that your details are up to date with HMRC or DWP – you may wish to contact them to check or update your details before you apply.

Apply now

Applying by email or phone

You can apply by email or phone if you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant, or have at least one child under 4 years old, and get either:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit (which includes the child addition)

You can also apply by email or phone if you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant and either:

• under 18 years old and not getting any benefits
• getting Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

If you get Child Tax Credit, you’ll need to apply by email or phone if you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant and have other children who are all aged 4 or older.

You can apply by either:

• emailing healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
• calling 0300 330 7010

Phone lines are open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Find out about call charges (opens in a new tab).

If you’re not a British citizen but your child is

You might be eligible for Healthy Start depending on your immigration status.

You can get Healthy Start if all the following are true:

• you have at least 1 British child under 4 years old – check if your child is automatically a British citizen (opens in a new tab) if you’re not sure
• your family earns £408 or less per month after tax
• you cannot claim ‘public funds’ (opens in a new tab) (for example, benefits) – either because of your immigration status or because you do not have an immigration status

Your biometric residence permit (BRP) or your online immigration status (opens in a new tab) will say if you cannot claim public funds. You might also have a letter from the Home Office about it.

To apply for Healthy Start, ask for an application form via email. Only use this email address if you think you cannot claim public funds because of your immigration status.

Healthystartclaim@dhsc.gov.uk