Free milk
Who gets it?
You can get free milk if you get income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Income Support while you're pregnant or breastfeeding, and also for your child up to age five. If your baby is under a year old you can get free formula milk if you prefer.

How do I claim?
You will be given tokens when you receive your benefit, which you can exchange with your milkman or most local shops, for one pint of milk a day. To claim the tokens, tell your JobCentre Plus office you are pregnant and let them know the date the baby is due. If you wish to claim formula milk for a baby under a year old, you can exchange the vouchers at Child Health Clinics (and from some pharmacies in Northern Ireland).

Cheap formula milk
Who gets it?
Some families who have a low income and who qualify for Child Tax Credit can buy formula milk at a reduced price from the child health clinic, for a baby under one year. Although at some clinics anyone can buy formula milk at a reduced price.

How do I Claim?
Not all families receiving Child Tax Credit will be able to, only those families with a very low income. You will be sent an NHS tax credit exemption certificate if you qualify. When you buy the formula milk at the clinic they will usually ask to see proof that you are entitled to the reduced price.

Free vitamins
Who gets it?
If you get income-based JSA or Income Support you can also get free vitamins from antenatal and child health clinics for yourself while you're pregnant or breastfeeding, and for your child up to age five. At some clinics anyone can buy cheap vitamins.

Help with hospital fares
Who gets it?
If your family gets income-based JSA or Income Support you can get a refund for fares to and from the hospital (including visits for antenatal care). Some people who get tax credits also get help. You will be sent an NHS tax credit exemption certificate if this applies to you. This can cover normal public transport fares, estimated petrol costs and taxi fares (if there is no alternative).

How do I claim?
You claim at the hospital at the time you go there by showing proof that you get the benefit, or you can get a refund later (within 3 months) by filling in form HC5 which you can get from the hospital or social security office. If your family has a low income you may also get help, but you first have to fill in form HC1 which you can get from your doctor, hospital or social security office. Depending on how low your income is you may be given either certificate HC2, which means you qualify for free services, or certificate HC3, which means that you qualify for some help. You show the certificate when you go to the hospital or claim later (within three months) on form HC5.

If you get income-based JSA or Income Support, remember to tell your JobCentre Plus as soon as your pregnancy has been confirmed by a doctor (they will ask to see proof) and tell them when your baby is born (they will want to see a copy of the birth certificate).

The information included here is provided from the fact sheet Money for Mothers and Babies, produced in April 2004 and gives benefit rates from April 2004. It is important always to get up-to-date information.

For details of publications, leaflets and information packs and training courses contact The Maternity Alliance office:

THE MATERNITY ALLIANCE
2-6 Northburg Street
London EC1V 0AY
Information line: 020 7490 7638