free xtra benefits???

SuziQ

If you are on income support you don't have to pay for school trips.

We do-at primary and secondary. I also had to fight both schools to get the free meals-I think it does depend on the school. My youngest was actually told to tell me that if I didn't pay he couldn't go,when I went in and complained about that the school said 'no one is so poor they can't make a contribution' and they also stated that as so many families are currently on income support etc at that school they would never be able to arrange any school trips unless they pushed people to pay. I was hurt as I had always paid full amount and the only reason I hadn't on this particular occasion was because it was a couple of weeks after I lost my job,I had not recieved final wages as the company went bust,my husband had left and I had yet to recieve any benefit.

mspig

SuziQ wrote: »

I do agree with mspig that it's different at secondary school,but you do have ample warning of the costs (I was told at the school view evening of uniform needs and costs at every school we viewed) I therefore put money away in advance to save up for all the secondary equipment-which included a certain calculator and certain books we had to purchase. We also got stung for the locker charge-compounded by him losing his locker key on his very first day,so had to pay another £5 for a replacement:rolleyes: Having got stung with my daughter 5 years earlier whan I had to find over a hundred quid very quickly I vowed to be better prepared when Matt went to secondary!

Unfortunatley we didn't get ample warning because we had to appeal to get in to the school which the appeal date was the 7th of July then we had to wait for a decision then the pack which only came on Monday stating what uniform he has to have and where we can get it from and a price list.

Luckly for us were not on benefits and we actually do have enough money to pay for the uniform they have requested(just means i won't be getting my LCD tv just yet that i'd saved up for), i just don't know how those that are on benefits could afford my sons school uniform without struggling to manage.

Lovaabargain

bridtown wrote: »

school uniforms cost a arm and a leg when school trips as well my children just won't eat school dinners as i carn't blame them it's s**t and won't give to my dog you just don't have the money to pay for them

Have to disagree with you on this one as I work in a secondary school kitchen & we provide very nutricious, balanced meals which are enjoyed by both the pupils and many of the teachers!

Have you actually been in to the school at lunchtimes to see what is on offer or are you just going by what other people have said as it would certainly save you quite a lot per week if your children are entitled to have them for free?

alison999

mitchaa wrote: »

£18.80pw
£12.55pw

£125.40 paid every 4 weeks.

This money is supposed to be used on the child for things such as school uniforms. You can easily get 2 school uniforms for under £125 and this is only 4 weeks sacrafice. CB is still paid for the remainder 48wks of the year on top.

Im not being rude, im just stating what CB is for. Yes its for food and heating etc aswell but wise budgeting as in the 48wks remainder of CB + income from CTC is more than enough.

If some (most) single mothers can budget and do this then i would say the same for the O.P.

I dont think its being rude at all.

i spend mine on clothes for the kids, usually its george @ asdas, or when my son was a baby - new bottles or whatnot. i can honestly say all my cb goes on my kids BUT its worth remembering that kids use electric, has & water as well;)

becky004

mitchaa wrote: »

To be honest, children do get bullied at school for being/looking poor.

I knew kids that were too ashamed to pick up their free school dinners because everyone would know they were poor. The kids that did usually got a bit of stick.

The same could be said about the way they dress and if they can afford to go on the school trip or not.

Children can be a bit vicious at times.

Must admit am not a fan of your posts, you do tend to be a bit mean and condascending for the most part, but you have hit the nail on the head with this one.
I give my kids packed lunches but the eldest goes to comp this year and all her friends are having a school "credit card" for food so she has to have one to, it ups the budget from £7.00 a week to £21 a week (needs £3.00 a day put on the card!). Also the whole new uniform because of the logo's will cost around £250. Up till now Asda and Tesco were fine, but now unless she has the same as her peers she will be ridiculed.

becky004

SuziQ wrote: »

I do agree with mspig that it's different at secondary school,but you do have ample warning of the costs (I was told at the school view evening of uniform needs and costs at every school we viewed) I therefore put money away in advance to save up for all the secondary equipment-which included a certain calculator and certain books we had to purchase. We also got stung for the locker charge-compounded by him losing his locker key on his very first day,so had to pay another £5 for a replacement:rolleyes: Having got stung with my daughter 5 years earlier whan I had to find over a hundred quid very quickly I vowed to be better prepared when Matt went to secondary!

Ample warning of costs? Yes uniform costs you get 8 weeks notice. Trip costs, no way! DD last scheduled trip we were asked for £180 12 days before it was due to take place, she didn't go ( I would have found or begged for the money but she declined as she knows how much money we are asked for via the school on an almost weekly basis!).

bonnie_2

Why don't you go bankrupt, alternatively you can make an offer of a £1 a creditor if your on benifits.Your benifit money shouldn't really be paying of debts if it pushes you into poverty. The CAB will be able to advise you.

GlasweJen

I work in ASDA and you can pick a full school uniform up for under a tenner (starts at about £5.75 for age 5-6). Polo shirts can be bought in white and various "school colours" in packs of 5 for about £7 (depends on your kids size). There are multipack offers on skirts and trousers, all of them teflon protected. Pinafores cost about £7.50, cardigans in all school colours are available as are school coloured sweatshirts. We also have a range for high school kids that wont break the bank.

[Deleted User]

GlasweJen wrote: »

I work in ASDA and you can pick a full school uniform up for under a tenner (starts at about £5.75 for age 5-6). Polo shirts can be bought in white and various "school colours" in packs of 5 for about £7 (depends on your kids size). There are multipack offers on skirts and trousers, all of them teflon protected. Pinafores cost about £7.50, cardigans in all school colours are available as are school coloured sweatshirts. We also have a range for high school kids that wont break the bank.

Many schools are very strict on uniform. It must be a certain colour and have the school badege/logo on it.
Unfortunately Asda/Tesco dont sell them, they are only available at John Lewis. Due to only being available in one store they can charge what they like.

Titch89

subsoniccoyote wrote: »

Many schools are very strict on uniform. It must be a certain colour and have the school badege/logo on it.

Indeed. That being said, I somehow (in secondary school) got away with a plain jumper.

We never had logos on anything when we went to school. It was standard white/grey shirt, maroon jumper

It was like this at primary school. Whilst there were school jumpers & t-shirts, (with the logo on) we weren't expected to wear them.