Scottish Government launches card to help low-income families buy food

A payment card is to be introduced by the Scottish Government to help lowincome families buy healthy food.

The card, which will be available for pregnant women and families with babies and children who receive certain benefits, will work in a similar way to a bank card.

It will provide help to buy items such as milk and infant formula, fruit and vegetables.

Eligible families on benefits get £17 on their card every four weeks during pregnancy and for any children between one and three years old. For babies up to age one, the payment will increase to £34.

The move is part of the Best Start Foods payment, which replaces the UK Government’s Healthy Start paper vouchers with a payment card.

Applications for the payment opened to families yesterday.

Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “This government is committed to doing all it can to improve the health and wellbeing of children in Scotland and give them the best start in life.

“That means ensuring lowincome families can access the healthy foods that some may otherwise struggle to afford.

“Introducing a new payment card to replace paper vouchers will enable families to access this vital support without fear of stigma.”

He added: “We have created more ways for people to apply and have combined the application process with Best Start Grant so families can apply for four different payments on a single form.

“As with all our benefits, we want to ensure that everyone who is entitled to a payment is encouraged to apply.

“We will work with partners including midwives and a range of other healthcare professionals to promote Best Start Foods to ensure as many families as possible know they are entitled to this support,”he said.