Universal credit and Free School Meals

sunniehol

Hi I work part time and I earn 617 which keeps me under the £618 cap to qualify for FSM. 

I’ve been contacted by the job centre to say that In April the Earnings Threshold for UC went up from £617 to £677 which now means I don’t earn enough to claim UC without looking for additional work. 

My question is, if I do extra hours to reach £677 I will then lose FSM as I’ve gone over £618 FAM cap. Surely this can’t be right. Why would I earn an extra £60pm to then lose FSM which for 2 children is £25 a week. 

Has anyone else realised this? Or is FSM allowance increasing from 7400 in line with the EAT increase for UC? 

sammyjammy

Assuming the thresholds for both are correct if you don't increase your hours/wages to meet the £677 requirement then they will require you to seek more work and have more contact with the Jobcentre so its your choice at the end of the day.

A google search suggest the FSM limit remains the same and has done for some years.

calcotti

The £7400 means that you have to earn less than this when you apply for FSM, if you later start to earn over this it doesn’t stop the FSM.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1133262/Free_school_meals.pdf
See page 5 and the lower paragraphs that set out the protection measures.