free school meals but not with working tax, why?

mum2many

My husband was made redundant in Feb and is still out of work. Our annual income from my wage is just, and only just, over 10k. I work 25hrs a week.

so why dont we qualify for free school meals? we're 6k under the limit but get some working tax but not 6k worth.

Can someone explain why this is?

em x

p00hsticks

I'm not an expert but I don't think that Working Tax Credits is one of the benefits that qualifies you for free school meals. Child Tax Credits is though - do you claim that ?

Coupon-mad

Have you started to claim Council Tax benefit or Housing Benefit?

mum2many

yes, we get CTC and WTC.

what i dont understand is if you earn under 16k and only get CTC you get free meals

but if you earn under 16k and get both (ctc and wtc) you dont.

this doesnt make sense as either way we have 6k less than the max amount.

does this mean if i work less hours but earn same amount i would get free meals?

em x

mum2many

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Have you started to claim Council Tax benefit or Housing Benefit?

we did try but they said we had too much income???? dont see how when its for 2 adults 2 teens and 2 at primary age.

flowergirls

I know the system is all wrong. As if u earn under 16k and have children u will get working tax credit. So only way u get free school dinner is if none of u work. Which is so wrong. I think they should also look at how many children u have.

Valli

This is from Direct Gov
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
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• 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 £16,040
• Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after their employment finishes or after they start to work less than 16 hours per week

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.


It might be worth checking you're getting your full WFTC entitlement.

Becles

I've been in your situation and you're right and it does feel unfair. It's claiming the working tax credit that excludes you from the free school meals, regardless of what your total household income is.

You could check with your local LEA to see if they are in the pilot free school dinners for all scheme. I know County Durham is and some other areas were selected. It means all primary school children in County Durham will get a free school dinner from September and I think the scheme lasts for two years.

Coupon-mad

mum2many wrote: »

we did try but they said we had too much income???? dont see how when its for 2 adults 2 teens and 2 at primary age.

We earn more than you do (we are both quite low paid and I am part-time) but we currently get Council Tax Credit on our Band D house. We also have 2 teens and 2 primary school children and we get WTC and a small amount of Child Tax credit.

I don't know why they would have said this to you? Do you have any savings - we have none. Was it Housing benefit or Council Tax Credit? Can you make another claim (I know the form is a pain but collect up your wage slips & bank statements & give it another go).

Also I think I read that after October, Council Tax benefit will ignore any Child Benefit when looking at your income (don't see why it takes it into account now to be honest!). So if I have remembered that right, then people with children who are borderline now for Council Tax Credit could qualify after October.

I have to say I agree with your OP. Why on earth should someone who is not working get free school meals when their income could be higher than your income as a couple with one person working (wages plus benefits)? Where is the incentive for people to even go to work !!!!!!?!

Brodiebobs

its really unfair, we were in this situation too i was on maternity leave and partner was made redundant, applied for council tax benefit and free school meals and was also told we earnt too much, when i phoned to complain the call handler said if we were that short of money i could return to work early.... my son was 10 days old!!!

starnight_2

I'm in this position also, even though my annual earning are less than 6k. Because I receive WTC I can't claim school meals. I find this unfair as it would be easier for my DS to have a school meal, due to the school finishing times and me getting home etc.

I don't see the reason behind it, originally I thought it was because WTC is supposed to top up your earnings to a reasonable level. Even if I take into account WTC and CTC I'm still just over 10k pa.