Finance and housing

The Healthy Start (opens new window) card is used to spend on healthy foods and receive free vitamins to give your child the best start in life.  To check your eligibility and to apply for Healthy Start see https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/ (opens new window). Also speak to your Midwife, Health Visitor or local Children's Centre for more information. Healthy Start (opens new window) has changed to a digital scheme (opens new window) that offers a prepaid card to those applying for Healthy Start instead of paper vouchers. The Healthy Start card is topped up every 4 weeks with your payment. 

Healthy Start is for children under the age of four and pregnant women only. You could get:

• £4.25 each week of your pregnancy (from the 10th week of your pregnancy)
• £8.50 each week for children under 1
• £4.25 each week for children between the age of 1 and below 4 years old
• See Worrying about money: Wiltshire (opens new window) digital leaflet for links to advice and support if you're struggling to make ends meet
• See Early years and child care webpage for support with childcare and pre-school funding which includes:
  • Better2gether Funding - for eligible 2 year olds to access up to 15 hours per week of free childcare at a registered setting
  • 3 and 4 year old funding - entitlement is for all children aged up to 3 and 4 for up to 15 hours free childcare per week. Or 570 hours per annum, 38 weeks of the year
  • 30 hours free child care - for eligible families to extend their 3 and 4 year old funding up to 30 hours per week
  • Early Years Pupil Premium - For early years providers delivering the funded hours to eligible 3 and 4 year olds. The payment goes to the setting to support your child
• The worry of paying bills, particularly if you are struggling with money, can have an impact on your health as well as your finances
• If you are living in a cold home or struggling with paying your bills, please speak with your GP or member of the surgery staff for more information or a referral to Warm and Safe Wiltshire. Warm and Safe Wiltshire can be contacted directly on 0800 038 5722 or visit the Warm and Safe Wiltshire service (opens new window) website.

If you need advice and support around housing, contact homeless@wiltshire.gov.uk  (opens new window)

The Warm and Safe Wiltshire service (opens new window) provides free, impartial advice about keeping your home warm, understanding your heating system and energy bills, switching energy suppliers, making energy saving improvements and a comprehensive home fire safety check where eligible. The service can also advise on possible benefit entitlement and available grants such as the Warm Home Discount.

• Supporting you through the rising cost of living: a range of advice, guidance and contact details to ensure you know where to get the support you may need during the current cost of living crisis​​​​​​
• Wiltshire Council warm spaces: check out what Wiltshire libraries, providing a warm and friendly welcome to support anyone who needs help through the cost of living crisis
• Visit Interactive Community Directory (opens new window) for other warm spaces and Community Food Providers
• Worrying about money: Wiltshire (opens new window) digital leaflet with links to support and advice (option to download printable version) 
• Child benefit information (opens new window)
• Financial information on benefits and council tax - in Wiltshire
• Housing Advice - Wiltshire council
• Warm and Safe Wiltshire service (opens new window) - for advice and support with energy bills
• National Debtline (opens new window) website
• Citizen's Advice Bureau  for information on topics such as money, debt, housing, employment and benefits. To search for local CAB office visit the Citizens Advice website (opens new window) or call 03444 111 444.
• Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start) (opens new window). Speak to your health visitor or midwife about the Healthy Start scheme or see Healthy Start (NHS): Applying for Healthy Start FAQs (opens new window) on how to apply and eligibility.