Thousands of eligible families are missing out on vouchers they could claim towards free food and milk. According to a new report, almost 220,00 people are failing to claim free vouchers that would get them food and baby milk every week.
The amount of unclaimed vouchers is worth around £1m every week, reports The Mirror. The proportion of eligible households claiming Healthy Start coupons fell from 65% in November to 51.5% in December, according to analysis by Feeding Britain. Read more: Car seats at centre of safety alert as parents told to stop using them 'immediately' Healthy Start coupons are available to pregnant women and parents with a child under four - and provides £4.25 to buy milk and basic food.
Parents with children under a year old can get double vouchers. But research shows that of 449,748 potential claimants, just 231,746 are enrolled on the scheme - with at least £926,508.50 of vouchers going unclaimed every week.
Because some of the unclaimed coupons will be for youngsters aged under one year - whose parents are entitled to two a week - Feeding Britain believes the weekly unclaimed value is at least £1m.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk