FREE SCHOOL DINNERS! Make sure you're not missing out if 'only' on CHILD Tax Credits!

blue_monkey_2

I wanted to come on here and make everyone aware that it is possible to get free clothing allowance when your child starts reception and also free school dinners if you are in receipt of HIGHER RATE CHILD TAX CREDITS. That is, if you get more than the basic family rate of £540, pa (or £1080 if you also have a child under 1).

I am really annoyed as our school never put this on the list in the news letter it just mentions JSA, Income support and WFTC which we do not get, but I was browsing the LEA website the other day and it says that if you get higher rate CTC you are entitled. Which we are as my husband lost his job and was on JSA for a bit but now we have missed out on this alowance. Not sure if we will be eligable next year as the CTC is about to end and another one start, but please everyone take note: It is not just for people on WFTC so check your forms and make sure everyone you know knows this too. Many people do not like to admit they are getting help but everyone should get the help they are entitled to if they can.

You can also get a clothing grant if your child is going into Reception year.

I hope this is of some help to someone and maybe it can be made into a sticky so everyone is aware.

Fran

Hi blue_monkey,

Just to clarify a couple of things, free clothing is only available in certain areas of the UK it depends on your local authority.

You can't get free school meals on Working Tax Credit, only on Child Tax Credit as you have pointed out.

blue_monkey_2

Hi Fran,

Apparently WTC are included as well (we'll it says in one section you are then in another you are not supposed to be in receipt of it - so make of it what you will!!). We are Herts County Council:

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for financial help, you need to be receiving one of the following benefits:

• Income Support or Income based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Child Tax Credit - with a taxable income no more than £14,495 and not in receipt of Working Tax Credit
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit Element)
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit – payable at a rate higher than the family element ie: £545.34 (this is £1,090.68 if you also have a child under one year old)
• Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Benefit (not including second adult rebate)

It was more to make people aware that they can claim for these and should have a look at their Councils website before reception age to make sure you get what they are entitled to. The thing is, we missed out as no-one told us we could get it so how many other miss out, I called to see if it can be back-dated and have my childs 'dinner money account' credited they have told me no, they can only back date in the term it is applied for and as we are due to start a new term on Tuesday 8th I don't think I'll get it for last term.

Mind you, might give it a go as either way my CTC award does not end until 5th April and getting it would be a help for this term if nothing else.

dirtydogmitchell

Hi i have just read the OP thread with interest, as i have been paying school dinners for 3 years, and we get more than the basic family element of £545 in child tax credits...
However we live in sutton coldfield in birmingham, so i have just checked Birmingham city council website, and only if your family income doesnt exceed £14,495, are you entitled to free meals..no mention of free dinners when you are in reciept of child tax at a higher rate than basic family element..Insert taken from www.http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=92709&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=14596

obviously all councils are different, and criteria for school dinners differs greatly..But im glad i checked, so thanks to OP for highlighting this..


Free Meal Entitlement Criteria Birmingham city council.

Free School Meals is a benefit awarded in respect of children under the age of 19 where the parent or guardian is in receipt of one of the benefits shown below:
Income Support; Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IB JSA); Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income, as assessed by the HM Revenue & Customs that does not exceed £14,495 from 06/04/2007. (Currently £14,155 from 06/04/2006);The Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit.
nb: Children in receipt of Income Support and Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA) in their own right are also entitled to free school meals.

By Law no other category of support payment or combination of Tax Credits qualify for free school meals. Similarly, there are no other circumstances that can legally justify the provision of a free meal.

Fran

blue_monkey wrote: »

Hi Fran,

Apparently WTC are included as well (we'll it says in one section you are then in another you are not supposed to be in receipt of it ..

WTC is not included, see the Direct.gov website.

Free school lunches
Parents do not have to pay for school lunches if they receive any of the following:
Income Support
income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £14,495
the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

Children who receive Income Support or income-based Job Seeker's Allowance in their own right qualify as well

The Herts. website is misleading and the page you quoted refers to "school expenses" and not specifically free school meals.

I called to see if it can be back-dated and have my childs 'dinner money account' credited they have told me no, they can only back date in the term it is applied for and as we are due to start a new term on Tuesday 8th I don't think I'll get it for last term.

Mind you, might give it a go as either way my CTC award does not end until 5th April and getting it would be a help for this term if nothing else.

Yes definitely give it a go, the Herts. website says you can backdate within the term!

dirtydogmitchell wrote: »

Hi i have just read the OP thread with interest, as i have been paying school dinners for 3 years, and we get more than the basic family element of £545 in child tax credits...
However we live in sutton coldfield in birmingham, so i have just checked Birmingham city council website, and only if your family income doesnt exceed £14,495, are you entitled to free meals.

Is your income over £14,495 per year? Do you receive Working Tax Credits? (In both cases you won't be entitled.)

The information on Direct.gov website covers all of the areas, they don't decide the free school meals individually but they do decide individually to do with uniforms.

blue_monkey_2

I think they are just confusing us all. At the end of the day, fill in the forms and them send a claim in - the worst they can say is no, if you are awarded then that is great. That is what I am going to do and if they say no then at least I have tried.

Fran, the top of this http://www.hertsdirect.org/scholearn/canhelp/ How can we help page says this: If your family has a low income we may be able to give you financial assistance while your children are learning. You can apply for free school meals, school clothing grant, help with travel costs, music fees and cycle training.

Maybe it is deliberately confusing to put people off, more confusing than the Tax Credits system if that is at all possible!! I've been checking the links on HCC website and it takes me around and around in circles so I am going to apply and if I get it great, if I don't then all I have lost is 10 minutes of my time! If I get it then I'll be able to claim for both of my childrens school dinners from next week and that helps quite a bit really.

Fran

Yes it is confusing because it implies you can get all of the financial benefits if you are on any of the benefits. If you look at the Direct.gov website though it is quite clear that you can't get free school means if on WTC.

It does sound like you can claim for this term though and get it backdated - good luck!

nettttie

I get the higher element of CTC, I also get WTC - so I get both but my annual income as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs is circa £12.

my LA says I must be on <£14.500 - BIG QUESTION - is this before my credits are added or in total?

was talking to a friend today who assures me I ought to be getting free school meals - i've paid for years - eldest in year 6 now!!

tomorrow am going to take my credit award to LA and find out...

Innocenti

When I was single I applied for free school meals for my sons. Even though my income was way below the threshold I was not entitled to them because I worked full time and got the WTC element.

I just dont understand this. If I was at home on benefits I would be getting about the same amount of money as I get paid every month but I would get free school meals. Just because I work I wasnt entitled to it.

Honestly, I worked it out once that if I was on benefits I would be £20 a week worse off.

Lovaabargain

nettttie wrote: »

I get the higher element of CTC, I also get WTC - so I get both but my annual income as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs is circa £12.

my LA says I must be on <£14.500 - BIG QUESTION - is this before my credits are added or in total?

was talking to a friend today who assures me I ought to be getting free school meals - i've paid for years - eldest in year 6 now!!

tomorrow am going to take my credit award to LA and find out...

You definitely won't get free school meals if you are in receipt of WTC regardless of how low your income is , it's crazy really as there are loads of us who earn less than the threshold but because we are in receipt of WTC we cannot get the free meals.

trixie73

i think its a big con. i get ctc at higher rate but dont get wtc BECAUSE we earn over 14,500