Thank you for your request for information about the following:

Request

‘Under the Freedom of Information Act I would like to request the following information under the current non-statutory expansion of eligibility to Healthy Start payments for families with no recourse to public funds [NRPF], also known as the ex-gratia extension.

This was transferred to NHSBSA in April 2025, but we believe data relating to the scheme prior to this as managed by the DHSC was transferred to NHSBSA, hence I am asking for information for the period of February 2021-August 2025. DHSC were not able to provide the below information as it was deleted after the transfer.

1. How many applications have been received for the Healthy Start ex gratia extension since the extension was made available to the present day?

2. How many of those applications have been successful, both as households and individual beneficiaries [as there will be some families with more than one eligible child].

3. For the applications that were not successful, how many were for the following reasons:

a. The form was not correctly filled in or not enough information was provided

b. The applicant did not meet the eligibility criteria

c. Other – please state the other reasons

In the event that you cannot provide the above information, relating to the information provided in parliamentary questions on 17 June please could you provide:

1. The total number of applications received from 1 April 25-present day

2. For the 51 applications that were not successful in this time, how many were for the following reasons:

a. The form was not correctly filled in/not enough information was provided

b. The applicant did not meet the eligibility criteria

c. Other – please state reasons’

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 26 August 2025.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Our response

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) data before April 2025

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHSBSA.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) transferred information relating to those on the scheme as of 7 April 2025. We did not receive any other information relating to the number of applications received, those that were successful or those that were unsuccessful.

NRPF data from April 2025 to August 2025

Question 1 - The total number of applications received from 1 April 25-present day

Since the NHSBSA took over the administration of the scheme on Monday 7 April 2025, as of 8 September 2025 we have received a total of 196 applications for the No Recourse to Public Funds scheme.

Question 2 - For the 51 applications that were not successful in this time, how many were for the following reasons.

Please note, the figure of 51 in the question refers to unsuccessful applications between 7 April 2025 to 19 June 2025. The data below covers the period from 7 April 2025 to 8 September 2025.

The form was not correctly filled in/not enough information was provided

There were no unsuccessful applications for this reason.

The applicant did not meet the eligibility criteria

From 7 April 2025 to 8 September 2025 there were 83 unsuccessful applications for this reason. Please see the breakdown of reasons for unsuccessful applications below:

Applicant has access to public funds – 22

No British child under 4 – 24

Take home pay is over the threshold – 7

Applied for pregnancy (pregnancy claims are not currently within scope for those applicants with no recourse to public funds) - 30

Other – please state reasons

Already has an active NHS Healthy Start claim – 3

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data.

Reusing the data and copyright

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2025”. Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.