Free school meals with working tax credit run on?

echo_and_narcissus

My husband has been made redundant. We were entitled to working tax credit, and are now receiving it in the 4-week 'run on.'

I applied to my DD's school for free school meals on this basis, and they turned down the application, saying they ran the details through the online checking system and they can't confirm our eligibility. I explained our situation and was told it doesn't make a difference if it's WTC run on or 'normal' WTC.

Have I misunderstood? I have Googled and the information is patchy about the run on but I have read that we should be entitled to claim free school meals under these circumstances.

Can anyone clarify?

Darksparkle

What was last year's income and this year's expected income?

HappyMJ

echo_and_narcissus wrote: »

My husband has been made redundant. We were entitled to working tax credit, and are now receiving it in the 4-week 'run on.'

I applied to my DD's school for free school meals on this basis, and they turned down the application, saying they ran the details through the online checking system and they can't confirm our eligibility. I explained our situation and was told it doesn't make a difference if it's WTC run on or 'normal' WTC.

Have I misunderstood? I have Googled and the information is patchy about the run on but I have read that we should be entitled to claim free school meals under these circumstances.

Can anyone clarify?

Quite sure you don't get FSM's with WTC's.

You do get FSM's with CTC's and not working so once they come through I'd apply again.

Darksparkle

HappyMJ wrote: »

Quite sure you don't get FSM's with WTC's.

You do get FSM's with CTC's and not working so once they come through I'd apply again.

There is an exception whilst on the WTC 4 week run on but would then depend on income.

https://www.myfreeschoolmeals.com/eligibility

tomtontom

WTC Run On is a qualifying benefit for free school meals. I dont understand the reasoning behind it but it is. OP have you spoken directly to the council rather than the school? If you're still having no joy then Google brings up several govt sources on the matter, print one or send a link to the school.

(There is no income qualifying element attached either - it is a passporting benefit.)

Darksparkle

tomtontom wrote: »

WTC Run On is a qualifying benefit for free school meals. I dont understand the reasoning behind it but it is. OP have you spoken directly to the council rather than the school? If you're still having no joy then Google brings up several govt sources on the matter, print one or send a link to the school.

(There is no income qualifying element attached either - it is a passporting benefit.)

That's not personally how I read the criteria but maybe I'm wrong. To me it reads as an extra to the CTC criteria.

tomtontom

Darksparkle wrote: »

That's not personally how I read the criteria but maybe I'm wrong. To me it reads as an extra to the CTC criteria.

The official page makes it clear the run on qualifies in its own right, it is not dependent on any other criteria:

https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

echo_and_narcissus

The school facilitates the FSM admin rather than the council so I had to apply directly to the school.

Having said that, I did an application directly to the council for my other children, who attend different schools, and that was also turned down.

I think I may have erroneously said our income for this tax year would be similar to last year - which of course it won't be if H doesn't find a job. He's been paid twice, plus a small amount of redundancy pay. If this is the case, this would be why we have been turned down.

Edit: just called the Tax Credits helpline. The advisor told me we don't qualify as we're still receiving WTC, even though it's the run on. So now I'm confused.

sheramber

https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

What you need to know

Available in England and Wales only
Includes offline steps

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

Income Support
income-based Jobseekers Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Universal Credit