School Trip - Tax Credits

bordercars

My friend, a single parent mum is working and gets tax credits and entilement to school dinners etc, son aged 12 is wanting to go on a 5 day school trip costing £250 it will be a struggle for her but every child in his class is going so she really doesn't want him to miss out. Is there any help she can get, the school seem to think that if she was on Income Support she could get help but not Tax Credits. I find it strange that she is working and gets her money made up but no help, yet if she was to claim and not work the assistance would be there. Are they wrong in there thinking or is there any help she can get.

Jet

If she is working tax credit ie. working over 16 hours per week, then she isn't entitled to free school dinners and won't be entitled to any help with the school trip.

If she is on income support and working less than 16 hours per week, then she would be entitled to free school dinners but I doubt if she will get help for a school trip.

Scarlett1

no help from the LA for school trips as they are optional, they will help with school uniform if someone is on a low income, in some cases that is.

aimee21j

Get her to contact the Headteacher or head of year- there may be a contingency fund in case someone can't afford to go. It seems a shame if his entire class is going and he doesn't. Does it say 'voluntary contribution' on the letter he had?

Becles

It depends on the type of trip.

My sons class are studying Romans and recently went to a local Roman fort so the children could see in "real life" what they had been learning about. This was essential to their studies, so there is a school fund that will help out with costs for people who cannot afford to pay.

The school also ran an outward bounds camp trip in the summer which cost around £250 each. It's not essential to their education though, so there was no help given with costs. I didn't send my son as I couldn't afford it and he was disappointed, but such is life!

Eagle_1

Has she actually spoken to the head and explained that child would love to go, Mother would also not want her Son to miss out and is there any help available from the school.
If the school has a PTA they often help in cases like this, or the Head Teacher may be able to get funding from somewhere. Id deffinately ask, all the school can say is no isnt it.

bestpud

I would second approaching the PTFA, as they do sometimes help out with things like this and it may be worth approaching the school again - perhaps if she told them the absolute maximum she can afford, they may help with the rest?

Is there a credit union in her area as they may be able to offer her a low interest loan which she could pay back weekly? Or is she able to pay the school so much a week to help spread the cost a little?

Otherwise, could he have it for his birthday/xmas present, if he really wants to go? That's what tends to happen in my house if the children want something badly and we can't afford it.

bestpud

Prudent

I usually make these trips a Christmas or birthday pressie, with a token present on the day.

Penny-Pincher!!

We are on IS and DD gets an allowance of £150 per academic year. If this runs out the school has a descretionary (sp) fund and are fabulous. I didnt know anything about this till DD had a school trip and I sent in a cheque and it was returned to me with a letter stating that becuase DD has free lunches there was no contribution expected.

She is going to Germany next Thursday for 2 nights and the LEA has funded it all. We have just got her some euros. She has also since Spetmenber been to Canterbury which would have cost £35 and seeing The Lion King next January.

We are very lucky.

Your frined will only be entitled to free lunches if she is on IS not working tax credits.

PP
xx

bordercars

A big thank you to all posters, she has said 1 way or another her lad will go, i was making enquiries incase there was something she may have been missing out on.

I know all circumstances are different, but it seems strange that because someone is going to work and all the problems that creates with child minders etc that if you get TC rather than IS you are treated differently, i reckon that most people would be better off sitting at home on IS getting everything they can rather than have the knowledge that they are doing there best for there family and working.

Scarlett1

bordercars wrote:

A big thank you to all posters, she has said 1 way or another her lad will go, i was making enquiries incase there was something she may have been missing out on.

I know all circumstances are different, but it seems strange that because someone is going to work and all the problems that creates with child minders etc that if you get TC rather than IS you are treated differently, i reckon that most people would be better off sitting at home on IS getting everything they can rather than have the knowledge that they are doing there best for there family and working.

people on IS dont get everything contrary to belief and they also do whats best for their family