free school meals but not with working tax, why?

karenx

I dont like the way tax credits works things. My cousin has a son who is 8 and she is a single parent earning 19k pa so therefor doesnt get WTC and she gets free school meals, and healthy start vouchers for her unborn baby. Me on the other hand, I earn 4.5k a year so qualify for WTC, so my income is now 10k per year and as I get WTC I dont qualify for free school meals or the vouchers for the baby I just had. But yet my cousin earns almost double what my wages and benefits are in one and she gets these things and I dont. Surly they should look at other factors and not just if u get WTC or not.

xnatalie81x

karenx - how does she get free school meals as you have to not get WTC and earn under the limit which is much lower than 19k......................

tori.k

i was told simply that it was for those that moved onto the child tax credit& job seekers instead of the old income supports system, LOL...mainly to stop confusion with new lone parents. !!!! about face as usual

BeenieCat

So what if you've got 15 kids and you don't work, but your benefits is more than 16k, do you have to pay school meals then? lol

mum2many

notlongnow wrote: »

I understand your point OP but I dont understand why it is unfair that people on CTC can claim free school meals but people on WTC cant. Surely if someone claims WTC they are working and getting extra money to top up their wage from WTC, but people on only CTC tax credit arent.

CTC=not as much money therefore are etitled to free meals.
CTC+WTC= moremoney coming into the house and arent entitled to free meals.

Im not having a go, im really not, and I know what its like to struggle, but I wouldnt expect to be able to claim free meals if I was getting CTC and WTC.

I think you should be entitled to free meals because your partner has unfortunately lost his job, and there should be some kind of temporary claim available until your partner is in a better job situation. After all, going from two wages to one is very difficult, and you still have your children to feed.

Good luck to you.

That wasnt my point really, I dont degrudge anyone who needs help getting it. i just dont think those in power have fully thought out who is entitled.

what i was meaning was

couple A have 4 children under 17, they work 14 hrs a week and earn 15k, they are entitled to free school meals.

couple B have 4 children under 17, they work 24hrs a week and earn 11k,
they are not entitled to free school meals.

surely this does not make sense. I understand that when you recieve wtc you can claim for childcare help BUT at the moment i cant get this as husband is not working (not for the want of trying)so is there for the kids, school meals would be of more help to us. what we recieve in wtc per week is less than the cost of school meals per week.

it just feel like if i cut my hours we would be better off, which is not what i want to do.

em x

mum2many

starnight wrote: »

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.

I know how your feeling, very frustrating when the benefits system can encourage you not to work and when your finacially better off staying at home and having quality time with the family.

em x

blue_monkey_2

If your hubby was made redundant, does he get JSA? It says on the list someone posted that you can get FSD if you get JSA. If that is the case then get him to apply for them.

Or does it not work like that?

[Deleted User]

mum2many wrote: »

That wasnt my point really, I dont degrudge anyone who needs help getting it. i just dont think those in power have fully thought out who is entitled.

what i was meaning was

couple A have 4 children under 17, they work 14 hrs a week and earn 15k, they are entitled to free school meals.

couple B have 4 children under 17, they work 24hrs a week and earn 11k,
they are not entitled to free school meals.

surely this does not make sense. I understand that when you recieve wtc you can claim for childcare help BUT at the moment i cant get this as husband is not working (not for the want of trying)so is there for the kids, school meals would be of more help to us. what we recieve in wtc per week is less than the cost of school meals per week.

it just feel like if i cut my hours we would be better off, which is not what i want to do.

em x

[STRIKE]Couple A would get no WTC and no JSA/IS due to their income level.
Couple B would get approx £37 p/w WTC plus they have higher earnings.

Couple A would obviously only have the free school meals for the kids during term time but Couple B would also receive the WTC through 13 weeks school holidays.[/STRIKE]

merlin68

It only works if you get income based jsa, which you wouldn't get as you are working.

mum2many

subsoniccoyote wrote: »

Couple A would get no WTC and no JSA/IS due to their income level.
Couple B would get approx £37 p/w WTC plus they have higher earnings.

Couple A would obviously only have the free school meals for the kids during term time but Couple B would also receive the WTC through 13 weeks school holidays.

couple B are already earning 4K less than couple A, even if they got £37 p/w WTC they still have less of an income than couple A without taking into account the cost of meals

Couple A 15K + £1560 (free meals for 4 children x £2 a day x 39 weeks)=£16560
Couple B 11k + £1924 WTC = £12924

Couple B are in effect £3636 per year worse off or £69 p/w

em x