Free School Meals & DLA

lovinmykids

Hi I'm wondering if anyone know's if you claim DLA for your child, does this also entitle them to Free School Meals ?
As I know that if you claim one benefit this often leads to other benefits being available.
but I can't find anything that relates to this.

Thankyou

claire1234

this is from the direct.gov website:


Free school meals only apply in England and Wales (although provision can vary). The free school meals scheme in England and Wales is usually administered by the education department of your local authority or governing bodies in your local area.
Free school meals in Scotland are at the discretion of the Scottish Government. The criteria for free school meals in Scotland can be found on the Scottish Government website.
You can get free school meals for your child if you or your partner gets either:

• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (the 'guarantee credit element') - not Scotland
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and have a family income below £15,575, as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs
  
  not sure about dla for a child but i typed in free school meals and that what it came up with,
  
  hth.

happymumto2

My youngest gets DLA higher rate, he doesn't qualify for free school lunches though as that is based on my earnings. You may however be entitled to other things such as help from the Family Fund, for holidays, washing machines, play equipment etc, again this is dependent on income but you can earn £25k (don't quote my figure!), or thereabouts and still be eligible for help from them.

tattoed_bum

i get Dla for my child and it doesn't qualify him for free school meals ,i think that if you get wtc then that qualifies fror free school meals ,

it all depends i think on your income and what other benifits you recieve

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello lovinmykids,

DLA is not a means tested benefit, so does not entitle your child to free school meals.
Depending of what level of DLA your child has received, there may be other benefits.

If you have middle rate care, you could claim Carers Allowance, although there are restrictions.
You can read more from this link.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/CarersAllowance/DG_10012522

Have you informed Child Tax Credits?
There are premiums dependant and the rate of DLA.

If you receive Housing Benefit or Income support, there are also premiums here.

Something extra is an cinema card, which allows the carer to go in free.
http://www.ceacard.co.uk
Often theme parks have special rates for carers and disabled, so it's always worth asking.

Regards
Munchie

holistic_witch

hi I looked into this awhile back
if you get working tax then you cant claim as there is already money alotted in the tax but if getting just tax credits then yes.
have a look on your school council website

Zara33

Free school lunches

Parents do not have to pay for school lunches if they receive any of the following:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £15,575
• the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

Children who receive Income Support or income-based Job Seeker's Allowance in their own right qualify as well. All pupils who do not qualify for free school lunches must be charged the same amount for the same quantity of the same item. Neither the local authority nor the school's governors can provide free meals to any other pupils.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/SchoolLife/DG_4016089
Getting DLA does not qualify for free school meals.

happymumto2

holistic_witch wrote: »

hi I looked into this awhile back
if you get working tax then you cant claim as there is already money alotted in the tax but if getting just tax credits then yes.
have a look on your school council website

I don't get working tax, only child tax at way over the family element because of son's disabilities, he does not however qualify for free school meals.

lovinmykids

Thanks
to everyone that has posted, this has been a great help. I don't think we would be entitiled as we prob earn to much (just).
Thanks again.