Shoppers have taken to social media to praise a money-saving scheme that can help people save on essentials as the cost of living soars.
Writing on Facebook, one Iceland shopper said that she had come across a label on her milk directing her to an NHS website.
In her caption alongside a picture of her milk she wrote: "I saw this on the side of the milk we brought from Iceland. I thought it might help someone out considering a lot of people are struggling at the moment."
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The post received almost one thousand comments after it was shared on the private group called Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK. The link on the carton of milk directs them to an NHS website.
However it is different for those living in Scotland. Social Security Scotland confirmed to Glasgow Live that another scheme is now in place.
Rather than the NHS scheme, those living north of the border can instead use Best Start Foods which replaced the UK Healthy Start Voucher scheme on August 12, 2019. Replying to the Facebook post many people were grateful for it adding that it can be a "lifeline" for some.
One wrote: "This is super handy. I have a healthy start card and manage to get my five-month-old two tins of formula a month. It takes the strain away only having to pay out £28 a month rather then £56 on formula."
Another added "Isn’t this so sad though and shows what we’ve come to, when the shops and their produce are even trying to help us".
A third wrote: "Thank you for putting this on, my daughter applied and has been accepted."
So what is the Best Start Food scheme all about and who is eligible? Here's what you need to know.
What is the Best Start Foods scheme?
The Best Start Foods aims to help tackle the impacts of child poverty by supporting low income families to buy healthy foods and is delivered via a prepaid card providing £18 every four weeks throughout pregnancy, £36 every four weeks from birth until a child turns one, then £18 every four weeks until a child turns three. According to Mygov.scot, they are part of the five family payments you may be able to get from Social Security Scotland, alongside Scottish Child Payment.
What can the Best Start Foods card be used for?
The card can be used to buy healthy food, including eggs, milk, fruit, vegetables and pulses. Applicants under 18 will be eligible for Best Start Foods during pregnancy and up until their child turns one, without the need to be in receipt of benefits whilst applicants over 18 need to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
You can find out what it can be used for in more detail here.
Who can quality for a Best Start Foods card?
You may be able to get Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods if all of the following apply:
- You live in Scotland
- You or your partner are getting certain benefits or tax credits
- You or your partner are pregnant, or are the main person looking after a baby or child who's the right age for a payment
Depending on your situation, there might be some other rules you need to meet to be able to get Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods.
The Mygov.scot website adds that "if you're under 18, you do not need to be on any payments or benefits to apply for Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods. If you're a parent over 18, you can apply whether you're in work or not, as long as you're getting one of these:
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit – this is Working Tax Credit with Child Tax Credit for Best Start Foods
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
"You cannot get Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods if you only get Child Benefit. You must still be getting one of the benefits or payments from this list to be able to get Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods.
"If you're not getting any of these benefits or payments, but have applied for one, you can still apply for Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods. For Best Start Grant, we do not need to know about your income.
For Best Start Foods, some of the benefits have an income limit."
How to apply to Best Start Foods
To complete the Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods form, you'll need:
- your name, date of birth and address
- your National Insurance number, if you know it
- your bank, credit union or building society account details
- if you have a partner, their name and date of birth
- details of any children you have or care for
If you do not know your National Insurance number, visit GOV.UK to find out what you can do. You can then sign-up here.
Eligible families and carers can find out more and apply at here or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222
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