To ask why do people not working claiming FSM get this for free?

How is that then on such low incomes? And why are schools finding that such children are often going hungry at home? Genuine question. Do you think the parents are so shortsighted / stupid etc. that they spend the money on toys instead of food?

Okay you didn't say that but you said she was less poor than you. It sounds like she isn't though if she is struggling to pay for food etc.

Are you being sarcastic? UC is very low.

Most of us recognise the privilege of owning but get annoyed that we are told we are well off as is often said on here. You can struggle to pay that mortgage. It also sounds like OP is struggling with bills and buying her child food. I can see why she might be a little envious.

We are long-term renters; despite both working ft we simply can't afford to buy. Would I describe us as "poor?" No.

@WithACatLikeTread please quote me where I 'made out' that the op was well off. You won't be able to, because I didn't. I really don't care if you don't enjoy owning your house. You own a property. You are lucky and it is a privilege many, including the majority of the children the OP is jealous of, cannot ever be able to afford.

If you have a mortgage presumably you own your home, the money you pay into your mortgage now is securing your future and affording future stability. Even if your disposable income is less right now in the long-term you are going to be better off than those families who are on low incomes and so will your kids who will likely get an inheritance from it. If being on benefits is really a better life you could sell your home and move into rented accommodation where you can have the housing paid, but presumably you would t want to do that because you recognise that actually being a homeowner is a privileged position compared to renting when it comes to the future, even if it makes life a little harder right now.

You're not just being left to manage. You are receiving a handout so be grateful for your UC.

That's was all very convoluted 🤣

I was typing thinking eek... I need to get the bin out!

Absolutely the line has to be drawn for funding.

It's the attitudes and yes, the stigma that comes with it. There are posters on this thread lumping all many sorts of life situations into the FSMs and the not.

Turning parents into the neglectful poor and those that do better.

It's a shame really, but you can't change simple bigotry, not even by trying to educate.

It's fine - us the poor, see those people and we know they're people we'd never want to know anyway.

@cadburyegg I'm aware of this; I've been in primary teaching for 20 years.
Again though, why are we making the assumption that lower wage families are experiencing problems which impact their child's wellbeing and development?

I agree. Same goes for the healthy start vouchers. Basically if you are working, even very little, you won't be entitled. I think the Conservatives have deliberately lowered the thresholds. I am sure the threshold for the two year funding for low incomes was higher than it is now.

The term "vulnerable child" is a term used to describe children who experience problems that can impact their wellbeing and development. So it isn't just used to describe children who are considered at risk from DV etc. it is also used to describe children in poverty or who are homeless.

I have been to some of these. I don't think they really check closely so OP might be able to get her son on these. Many people book and then don't turn up.

No one has said "all". And pp have tried to explain the additional pressures on parents in this situation that can lead to a higher than average number of children in this situation needing extra support and care. Would you rather this inequality was ignored?

We don’t actually claim any of the additions to the pupil premium available at her school(fsm , holiday and food vouchers )only for the school to have access to the pupil premium as it benefits them, we could though, but I guess the statistics show that those children from families newly off of those benefits are still generally in more need of support and we are not a typical scenario.

I think the HAF activities look amazing.

I email them to ensure they know DD won't be taking up a place, she's 15. She used to want to be Rocky, but Frank Bruno's school of boxing isn't that appealing any more.

I quite fancy going lol. Not sure I could get away with it 😉 (not with my walking stick anyway 🤣).

I don't think anyone has said all children on FSM are vulnerable?

But collectively they have to be treated as so, in order for funds to be provided.

Which makes sense considering how many are.

Most of the HAF clubs are priority for fsm kids but open to all.

@LorlieS @shellyleppard its just a matter of statistics, it isn’t personal to anyone. Statistically children who receive fsm are at greater risk of poor educational, health and safety outcomes- no one thinks that applies to every single child or family with fsm- it just applies to more of them than non fsm families.

Of course they are struggling the same as you as otherwise they wouldn't qualify for UC. Do you think we are much wealhier than you? My husband was unemployed several times in recent years and they wouldn't help with the mortgage until you were nine months unemployed which could be a bit late!

You get most of your rent paid though so not sure why you are bothered? You benefit from UC in a different way. It does make me laugh on UC groups that having your mortgage paid causes uproar but it is okay for UC to pay a landlords mortgage. 😂

I implore anyone who feels a bit jealous to watch this. The families likely to be receiving fsm are like the one in this video, yet you wouldn't have a clue as an outsider. Poor children don't all walk round in rags.

Thats a huge stereotype you can qualify for fsm and still give children a good quality of life.
also you do realise TP has been around for many years. You could earn 100K plus now and your dc still quality for fsm.

I think the real problem is that the threshold for qualifying for free school meals is too low. My three children qualified for FSM when I separated from their Dad and I was on a very low income. I was working part time and claiming universal credit and I can assure you that we had no spare money at the end of each month. They don't get free before/after school club in my area but they did qualify for free holiday clubs and a hot meal funded by the HAF scheme and I am very grateful. It enabled them to attend activities and be provided with a decent meal and they felt no different to other children whose families could afford the holiday clubs. It made a huge difference to them and me but I know there are so many other families above the threshold for free school meals who could really do with some help too. Please don't feel jealous if families with even less money, it is not their fault. The issue is that the income needed to qualify for FSM is now incredibly low

I was just pointing out you can be a home owner and be on benefits and not well off as you made out. Personally owning a house isn't all it is cracked out to be. Whilst you may be at the mercy of the landlord for the repairs to be done we can't afford to get things repairs etc so yeah maybe sometimes we don't feel particularly lucky. Plus we live in a shit area but can't afford to move and in order to move we need things done to the house like a damp course etc before it can sell.