Free school dinners....

Becles

annaangeluk wrote: »

I currently recieve child tax credit and working tax credit but with the two combined plus my income I still have an annual income of considerably less than £15,575. So does the fact i recieve WTC automatically mean I'm not eligible for free school dinners even though I'm way below their income threshold??

That's right. I found I wasn't eligble for free school dinners when I was a single parent and my household income was considerably less than £15K, due to working part time and getting some WTC.

It seemed unfair at the time, but I've been better off in the long run by working rather than going on Income Support and claiming free school dinners.

bestpud

LizzieS wrote: »

WTC is 'paid' to working families earning up to £58K per year, just they don't actually receive it as it is the first element reduced to nil due to amount of earnings. Any-one who has WTC included in their tax credit calculation, even if the eventual payment is either a combination of WTC/CTC or just CTC, will not qualify for free school meals.

You missed the other group (hence why i picked your post). Those who work less than 16 hours do not qualify for WTC, so these people can actually claim free school meals if their income for TC purposes is below £15575pa. Page 11 here:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/wtc6.pdf

Ironically there will be people who earn much less than £15575 (even with WTC element included) who are disqualified, yet there are others who earn just short of £15575 and do qualify!

Ah yes, I had forgotten about those.

I can see how that happens too - one of those quirky things that nobody considered when planning tax credits I guess.

Thanks for the info.

I agree Becles - it's much better in the long run to keep working, and for all sorts of reasons, not just financial.

Auzelia

bestpud wrote: »

it's much better in the long run to keep working, and for all sorts of reasons, not just financial.

My reasons are for sanity reasons :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Its like respite for me :A