Using NHS healthy start card

[ThatCheeryLimeOtter]

So we've got a healthy start card and we dont tend to use it much mostly because I forget it exists but we're struggling for money this month so it would be really useful to buy for u with it. The only problem I have is I can't buy baby's formula in any shops near me (it's kendamil goat) so I have to order online. Is there anyway to use the healthy start card to order online or does anyone know if I could buy a gift card or something with it?

I think if the gift card is bought from a store that is well known like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S etc and they stock the gift card then I don’t see why not, you can always try to see if it works but I know you can’t use these cards online only physically whilst in the store. All the best 💐💐💐

Nope
Can only use on fresh milk, fruit or veg. Won’t work for anything else

You can't use it online no ... it says you can only purchase certain things with it; fresh milk, baby milk etc but I don't know how they police it.

I guess if you went into Tesco and purchased a gift card and then tapped your healthy start card the cashier wouldn't know how you're paying for the gift card balance? - unless healthy start check

I have a healthy start card & it absolutely works in the major supermarkets.... on anything! Just use it towards your family shop & use the money saved from that to order the milk.
They cannot track or trace what you spend it on before anyone says. I saved mine up all year & did the Christmas food shop with it.

There is me thinking it was for parents who are on the bones of their arses.

Just use it towards your normal grocery shopping or milk/fruit/veg top up shop then that will cost less, freeing up money to pay for the online formula order.

@IVFmumoftwo it's for people on low incomes, depending on circumstances and how well someone manages their money, they could usually be able to meet necessary expenses quite well so not necessarily be 'on the bones of their arses'.

There's always 1 🙄🥱

I get the grand total of £4.25 per week for my qualifying child. I don't think I need to tell you that my weekly fruit/veg/milk cost is a lot more than this.

Also, only 1 of my children qualifies. So should I ring-fence only the items bought with this money for them? "Sorry older sibling. No you can't have a banana because your little sister is only allowed it!"
It's all part of the same pot! I use my other account to pay ALL of the family shop & the £17 per 4 weeks I keep back so that I can not stress over a turkey or a few selection packs.

Would you have commented the same if I had told you I used it to bulk buy nappies or household supplies?

Oh & I don't smoke or drink before you think I'm robbing from the mouths of babes 🤣

Ignorant twit.

If your child has allergy-you can get formula on prescription from GP.

Not true - it's supposed to be used for these things. However, if you use it at self check out, you can buy anything with it (not saying anyone should do this, but i don't judge).

It can't be used online.

It actually works for everything else. We have customers who use their Healthy Start card to pay for all of their shopping,including cigarettes,alcohol and scratch cards. It's outrageous. When it was coupons staff had to verify them,not now it's a card

Can it be used for groceries? If so then use it in a supermarket.

Hdhdhdhd

They work for anything, you’re only meant to buy milk formula and fruit and veg though

Really ? My aunt works in a Tesco and says she sees it being used for other things (not fruit veg milk) but it is always people trying to buy bread/pasta/yogurt etc she’s never had one case where anyone has used it for alcohol etc just normal food so she says nothing as it’s obvious it’s needed for people to have some food

So when you used it for your everything shop did u do self checkout cause surely there would be some knob at a till saying u can’t use it towards the whole shop and just towards the items they say you can buy

You can just tap the card in most cases the cashier doesn’t check what type of card you use

I was in Aldi yesterday and the self scan payment options included the healthy start card

It's just like any other bank card with chip & pin plus contactless. You wouldn't know the difference without inspecting it.

Unsure how you saved up for your Christmas shop when the money is wiped every 16 weeks 🤔

You're supposed to only be able to buy milk, fruit and veg with it but we discovered you can use it to buy anything in the supermarket. It's just like a normal chip and pin card

Mine wasn't? It's always just continued to add up.

You can use it for anything at all. Tried and tested. Gov website states in can be used for toiletries etc.

Really? I assumed they could check and even at the self checkout I do 2 separate transactions one for milk fruit veg with HS card and other stuff with bank card

Im absolutely sure you cannot use them for cigarettes and alcohol they surely wouldn’t have a system where that’s possible ??