A NHS Lothian project discovered that bureaucratic issues as simple as using the wrong colour ink to complete paperwork, has meant that mothers on benefits were missing out on vouchers that can be exchanged for vitamins and healthy foods.
Midwives who misunderstood the process had also made it more complicated, according to the research.
The project, which guided midwives on what to do and referred eligible women to welfare rights advisors for help with applications, increased uptake of the vouchers by more than 13%. By going through their other entitlements the advisors ultimately boosted the family budgets of those involved by an average of £4,500.
Project leader Dr Graham Mackenzie, a consultant in public health medicine for NHS Lothian, said it was a "life-changing" sum of money.
Healthy Start vouchers are available for low income families across the UK to help them eat well, but at least 25% of those who could use them miss out.
Dr Mackenzie said applications were being rejected because the ink was the wrong colour, writing had strayed outside the printed boxes and the lower case had been used when capitals were required. Other problems included women being unable to read the form, their partners being reluctant to complete their section and people forgetting to post the document.
