Free school meals, Universal Credit, Budgeting Advance.

bec1993

Hi, just wondered if anybody had any knowledge on when/if certain things are reviewed and the history, basically with the AET increasing and wages I will no longer be eligible for the free school meals from next school year, when was the last time they increased the threshold? Expecting people to raise work hours but will no longer be eligible for many things I was beforehand, if it’s about helping those on a low income surely if people up hours/wages they no longer qualify & can’t access the help they could before yet are still on a relatively low income in comparison.

Same with the budgeting advance in UC, have to have earned less than £2,600 in 6 months, with wage increases surely this is a small amount now, or people who are currently not working. The help people were once entitled to seems to be ever dwindling! I appreciate I will be earning slightly more but who are these schemes going to benefit in future if the eligibility thresholds don’t change?

sammyjammy

Its a good point but not for discussion here, this board or is for help and assistance with specific issues.  Lobby your MP

andrewmp

Because of transitional protection I thought everyone stayed on FSM until at least 2025

bec1993

sammyjammy said:

Its a good point but not for discussion here, this board or is for help and assistance with specific issues.  Lobby your MP

Sorry wasn’t aware, I have been in contact with local MP & currently awaiting a response.

bec1993

andrewmp said:

Because of transitional protection I thought everyone stayed on FSM until at least 2025

You’re right, announced in Feb was being extended, better than nothing, wonder if they will raise the threshold in 2025 in that case! (Fingers crossed)

NedS

andrewmp said:

Because of transitional protection I thought everyone stayed on FSM until at least 2025

Not sure if it's related to transitional protection, but I thought once a child was found to be eligible for free school meals, they retain that eligibility until they finish that school, so for primary age children until they move to secondary, and for secondary aged children until they leave school (at 16?).

atlantis187

Same with free prescriptions I don't think they have raised the thresholds since the introduction of UC.
As people are not generally clued up on thresholds etc.. and it doesn't get mentioned in the media so the government tend not to touch it and let people go on being more poor whilst forcing them to work more.
  

andrewmp

NedS said:

andrewmp said:

Because of transitional protection I thought everyone stayed on FSM until at least 2025

Not sure if it's related to transitional protection, but I thought once a child was found to be eligible for free school meals, they retain that eligibility until they finish that school, so for primary age children until they move to secondary, and for secondary aged children until they leave school (at 16?).

Yes, that's correct.

tifo

atlantis187 said:

Same with free prescriptions I don't think they have raised the thresholds since the introduction of UC.
As people are not generally clued up on thresholds etc.. and it doesn't get mentioned in the media so the government tend not to touch it and let people go on being more poor whilst forcing them to work more.
  

Yes, with the increase in thresholds and people having to earn more, they'll be out of help with NHS costs. This will mean a loss in real terms as they'd have to pay for prescriptions (or buy a yearly certificate) and dental care (if you can get it).

The inflationary increase in UC and the work allowance will mean you'll get extra money but then the increase in AET means you have to earn more so the increase gets taken in the 55% deduction. I've calculated that we'll be back to where we were before April. Win win for govt.