Free school dinners?

DX2

OrkneyStar wrote: »

It is not Scotland-wide at the moment, I don't know all the areas it does include though....will that do ?

Are you sure you aren't getting confused with this?
Extensions to free school lunch entitlement

The Scottish Government has two jointly agreed commitments to extend entitlement to free school lunches in its concordat with local government.
Following the positive evaluation of the free school lunches trial carried out in 2007/08, legislation was passed in November 2008 to enable local authorities to provide free school lunches to all P1-3 pupils from August 2010. This will benefit approximately 118,000 pupils across Scotland.
The other commitment is to extend entitlement to free school lunches to pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of both maximum working tax credit and maximum child tax credit from August 2009. Legislation to extend entitlement to these pupils has now been passed by the Scottish Parliament. This will benefit approximately 44,000 pupils across Scotland.

As the criteria for free school meals in Scotland is this:

Free School Lunches

Access to free school lunches is an important part of the school lunch service in Scotland. It is important that pupils entitled to free school lunches get them without fear of stigmatisation. They should not be made to feel different from those who pay nor be readily identified by others.
Who is eligible for free school lunches?


You can claim free school lunches for your children if you are receiving:

• Income Support (IS)
• Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Child Tax Credit (CTC), but not Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £16,040 (as assessed by HMRC in 09/10)
• Both maximum child tax credit and maximum working tax credit and your income is under £6,420 (as assessed by HMRC in 09/10 )

If you are between 16 and 18 years old and receive any of these benefits in your own right, you can claim free school lunches for yourself.
You may also be eligible if you are an asylum seeker receiving support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
For more information on Child Tax Credit and Working Tax credit visit the Inland Revenue website.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/HLivi/Schoolmeals

Becles

bestpud wrote: »

I don't know of another instance when the system really is unfair.

SMP and MA. If you are employed, you can usually claim SMP, but if you are self employed you have to claim MA.

Employed ladies on SMP can continue to work on a self employed basis with no affect on their benefit payment. Theoretically she could work full time self employed but still claim SMP.

Self-employed ladies on MA cannot do any work at all, be it self employed or employed.

Life is easier for a SMP employed lady as she has the right to walk back into the same pay as before she went on maternity. It's impossible to a self employed lady to do that, as you need to spend the first few weeks informing your clients you are back and searching for work to do, and therefore it takes a while to build your income back up.

It would be fairer if both groups were prevented from doing any work while claiming.

Anyway - back on topic. Primary children in County Durham currently get free school dinners for this year and next school year. My middle one is currently on this scheme. It's a trial to see if it is viable to launch it country wide in future.

karenx

OrkneyStar wrote: »

I think this might only be Edinburgh, not Scotland-wide, as it is a council thing from what I can see.
Normally WTC payment stops any entitlement to free school meals, and if you start to earn too much to get WTC, then will likely not qualify on income basis ?
Does the WTC not cover the school meal cost ?

Yes I can pay for it from my WTC but if its a benefit that's there for me to use then why should I not use it if I qualify? I'm only taking what I'm entitled to? I paid school dinners all through p1 then they brought out new rules which all parents got a letter about, so I went and got a form and it just so happened I now qualified!

Sucker_for_sweeties

I really liked when my primary had free schools meals for a big chunk of a year, free for all.

DD has always been a good 'try everything' eater, but since the trial she regularly, happily, picks five days meals no problem. Before the trial she had them only when she really fancied the option.

DS goes to P1 next summer, and I do hope the scottish government has the budget to support free meals for 1-3 by then.

Not just for my financial wellbeing, but because I really believe a hot, healthy meal midday will transform a lot of kids eating habits, and hopefully rub off on me too:p

OrkneyStar

karenx wrote: »

Yes I can pay for it from my WTC but if its a benefit that's there for me to use then why should I not use it if I qualify? I'm only taking what I'm entitled to? I paid school dinners all through p1 then they brought out new rules which all parents got a letter about, so I went and got a form and it just so happened I now qualified!

Karen, I was not saying you should not get the free school meals and WTC if there is such a scheme where you live, I was referring to the OP who does not seem to have the same scheme in her area. Sorry for confusion!