free school meals

lucie1973

i have read on here that if your income is under a certain amount and you claim benefits you can claim free school meals, i went to apply for them at the school but when i got the form it states that you can not claim if you receive working tax credits which i do, yet my income still falls below the stated amount, can anyone tell me why this is as i struggle to pay the money each week, my daughter does not want packed lunch and i would prefer her to have a stable meal each day, any help would be appreciated.

karenx

Why does she not want a packed lunch? At least by giving her that you know she is getting something she will eat?
My son has school means but on some days there is options on the menu which he doesnt like so those days I give him packed lunch.

Fran

Perhaps there is some other benefit you could be entitled to but not claiming? If you are on Working Tax Credits have they got your most recent income informtion?

mazza111

I'm in the same boat, receive CTC which is required for school meals in this area, but because I get WTC too, it does me out of the school meals, can't advise, sorry.

AnxiousMum

My kids don't want packed lunch either - but with three of them in school, that's what they get 'cos that's what I can afford! They get school dinners on a Wednesday as they like the roast dinner.
If you get a 'food thermos' with a wide mouth on it, hot meals stay good in these till lunch time - kids can take some soup, spaghetti bolognese, ravioli - they enjoy having something warm in the winter especially, and alot cheaper than school dinners.

DX2

lucie1973 wrote: »

i have read on here that if your income is under a certain amount and you claim benefits you can claim free school meals, i went to apply for them at the school but when i got the form it states that you can not claim if you receive working tax credits which i do, yet my income still falls below the stated amount, can anyone tell me why this is as i struggle to pay the money each week, my daughter does not want packed lunch and i would prefer her to have a stable meal each day, any help would be appreciated.

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.

What is your income?
What is your working tax credit award?

Becles

I agree it's unfair not to get free school meals because you are working.

When I was a single parent of two, I had around £10K pa coming in through a combination of WTC and wages, but didn't get school meals because I was working and getting WTC.

I kept mine on packed lunches because it was cheaper, and the boys had no choice in the matter.

karenx

Actually what is your income if you dont mind me asking? And also do you stay in scotland or england? I think the rules are different per area as I get WTC, I applied for free school meals start of term as it said you had to have an income of below a certain amount but could still be recieving WTC to get them. I got my letter back about an hour ago saying I qualify for free meals. So when I pick up my eldest Im taking the letter in to show the school and see if I can claim any of my money back, it states on letter I qualified from August. So for 3 months I should of got them free when I have been paying. Lets see how I get on with trying to get money back lol

bestpud

karenx wrote: »

Actually what is your income if you dont mind me asking? And also do you stay in scotland or england? I think the rules are different per area as I get WTC, I applied for free school meals start of term as it said you had to have an income of below a certain amount but could still be recieving WTC to get them. I got my letter back about an hour ago saying I qualify for free meals. So when I pick up my eldest Im taking the letter in to show the school and see if I can claim any of my money back, it states on letter I qualified from August. So for 3 months I should of got them free when I have been paying. Lets see how I get on with trying to get money back lol

Are you in Scotland?

bestpud

OP - does you income including wtc, come to over the £16ish limit?

As I understand it, wtc disqualifies people because it is supposed to top your income up to a certain level, and they believe that level is sufficient to fund school meals.

I have no idea if this works in practice, or how many parents receive wtc but that and their wage added together is still below the threshold for free meals...?

But if you cannot afford it then how about you compromise and your children have two hot meals and three packed lunches a week? Lots of parents do that at dd's school.

They don't actually need a hot meal at lunchtime and a packed lunch can provide them with just as many, if not more, nutrients... Do they have an evening meal at home?

DX2

The free school meals rules is exactly the same whether you are in Scotland/England/Wales.

Karenx aren't you on maternity leave at the moment? maybe that would be the reason you get it just now.