Free School Meals

Dazzieboo

Do the qualifiers for these vary throughout the country ?, I am in Suffolk, a single Mum, 2 children at primary school and on a low wage. I have just been on the entitled to website and it says, going by the information entered, I may be able to get free school meals.

I have already asked the school if I can and was told I have to be on income support or be unemployed, they do not give them to people who work, no matter how low the wage.

Have I been given the correct information by the school ? or does it vary county to county ?

Thanks.

niccy

we got free school meals for a time then the council stopped it.We were getting it even though we were on WFTC.I think some political party is fighting to get free school meals for all kids.
Five kids x £1.50 a day = £37.50 a week:eek:

Spendless

Your salary has to be below x amount but you can't get it if you are on working tax credits.

Becles

If you are on benefits only and have an income of less than around £15, you get free school meals.

However, if you work you don't get free school meals regardless of your income.

I thought it was unfair when I was in the same situation as you Dazzieboo.

lexi

my brother in law is a single parent of twins, on IS & working 16 hrs. the kids are entitled to free meals HOWEVER, their mum told them that they would get teased if the other kids knew, so the twins stomped their feet & refused! They now BUY their meals @ 1.50 each! Typical isnt it, you want em cant get em & my nieces can get em & dont want em!!!

Lovaabargain

Where we live you are entitled to free school meals if you are on income support or if you are on a low income & work less than 16 hours per week (which means you are not claiming Working Tax credit).

full-time-mum

You should register as qualified for school meals even if you don't accept them as you will then be entitled to extra help with funding school trips.

Talk to your school about free meals and teasing as (dependant on the school/sympathy/numbers) they may be prepared to take your child's lunch box and fill it out of sight.

Mind you, if the mother is stupid enough to tell them they will get teased then maybe they aren't that hard up!

Try phoning these numbers to find out more info in your area....

Contact details for Suffolk County Catering

crutches

from the mums attitude i assume thats why the dad is a single parent with care of the children????!!!

lexi

crutches wrote: »

from the mums attitude i assume thats why the dad is a single parent with care of the children????!!!

lol, they are both 'in laws' so i keep out of it! I have to admit for one looking in, so to speak, it certainly is a strange carry on. My bro in law is always complaining at having no money & then pays for meals when he doesnt have to. I think & have said that i think his ex's words were highly inappropriate, but unfortunately you have to know the kids to really comment & this thread is not the place to say what i really think! Anyway Dazzieboo, i hope you can get sopme help as you sound like someone who would appreciate it.

Spendless

lexi wrote: »

my brother in law is a single parent of twins, on IS & working 16 hrs. the kids are entitled to free meals HOWEVER, their mum told them that they would get teased if the other kids knew, so the twins stomped their feet & refused! They now BUY their meals @ 1.50 each! Typical isnt it, you want em cant get em & my nieces can get em & dont want em!!!

If he's working 16 hours he won't be on IS, he'll be on WTC and as said before he won't be entitled to free school dinners. If he is working below 16 hours then he will be on IS but he will only get to keep a small amount of his wages (can't remember how much £15-£20) but he will be entitled to free school dinners.