Best Start Foods - Scotland - Can I get Best Start Foods?

You can only get Best Start Foods if you live in Scotland.

If you’re under 18

You can get Best Start Foods if you are pregnant or are a parent of a child under 1, and you are under 18. Once your child turns one, you have to be getting a qualifying benefit to get Best Start Foods. 

If you are aged between 14 and 18, you can choose whether you get the card yourself or whether someone else gets it for you. If you are under 14, you will need your parent or carer to apply for you.

If you’re over 18 (or under 18 and your child is 1 or over)

You can get Best Start Foods if you are pregnant or are a parent of a child under 3 (if you were already getting Healthy Start vouchers before you claimed Best Start Foods, you may be able to get Best Start Foods until your child is 4) and you are getting one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income related Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Income based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, without Working Tax Credit (if you (and your partner) earn less than £18,725 per year)
• Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit (if you (and your partner) earn less than £8,717 per year)
• Housing Benefit (if you (and your partner) earn less than £358 per week)
• Universal Credit (if you (and your partner) earn less than £726 per month)

You may be able to get Best Start Foods if you cannot claim benefits because of your immigration status and you are on a low income. Find out more about claiming Best Start Foods if you have no recourse to public funds.