Claiming Milk Tokens

The process of claiming milk tokens is done through the Healthy Start initiative, launched by the previous government. Healthy Start allows you to claim free vouchers every week that can be swapped for milk, fresh fruit and vegetables and infant formula milk, along with free vitamins. The Healthy Start initiative replaced the Welfare Food Scheme.

Milk is a vitally important part of a childs diet and lifestyle, it adds significant benefits to the growth and development of children. Whole milk and other full fat dairy products are a good source of Vitamin A for children, these vitamins help the body to resist infection. This source of vitamin is also useful for maintaining healthy skin and healthy eyes.

Mothers can breastfeed babies after the age of one if they choose to do so, but mothers are also advised to give their children full fat cows milk to drink also. Full fat milk and dairy products should be used up and until a child is the age of two, this is due to the fact that the childs body needs extra vitamins up until this age. After the age of two a mother can choose whether to introduce semi skimmed milk into the diet, this should be introduced only if a child eats a varied diet and appears to be developing well.

To be eligible to claim for milk tokens, you must have at least one child under the age of 5 years old and be in receipt of Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance and Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit. If youre not claiming Income Support or JSA you may still be able to claim for milk tokens if youÕre familyÕs income is below the yearly threshold.Ê The other case youll be able to qualify for the Healthy Start program is if youre pregnant and under the age of 18.
The actual value of the vouchers is £3.10 a week if youÕre pregnant, £6.20 a week for each child under the age of 1 and £3.10 a week for each child between the ages of 1 and 4.

The vouchers can be used in any participating retailer including supermarkets, corner shops, chemists, market stalls, greengrocers and milkmen. Any shops that are part of the scheme will usually display a Healthy Start sticker in their window. Any changes in personal circumstances must be reported to the Inland Revenue, changes which are relevant include the securing of a job if unemployed or a change in a partners personal circumstances.

Mothers can claim milk tokens for each child they have up until they are four years old, if a mother becomes pregnant during the time she has other children she can also claim milk tokens for the new baby.