Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Just at the cut off for free school meals

139 replies

Velveteengreen · 03/07/2024 13:27

We claim UC and are just under the threshold for FSM. Therefore all the holiday clubs and activities that we could access during school holidays, we’ll need to pay for ourselves. which isn’t feasible. We’ll just about be able to afford to feed our DS this summer holiday as it is and we’ll probably end up back in the overdraft.
I so understand there has to be a cut off point, but I can’t help feeling a little envious when friends who do qualify for FSM are talking about sending their DC into holiday camps for the entire 6 weeks for free. Plus a lot of them will get money from councils for food and essentials too. Same as last year.
I’m honestly not trying to upset anybody but I just feel really down and worried about the upcoming holidays.

OP posts:
UndertheCedartree · 03/07/2024 20:56

RubySloth · 03/07/2024 20:53

Here's what ours look like.

Show quote history

That looks good 😊

LostTheMarble · 03/07/2024 20:54

UndertheCedartree · 03/07/2024 19:55

And that's all free?

I've never even seen anything for SEN children.

Show quote history

My area does. But they do trips and say it’s just for the kids and workers of the schemes. Like fuck I’d leave my barely verbal child with people neither of us have met before just for a bit of respite. I’d sooner put up with the out of routine meltdowns….

RubySloth · 03/07/2024 20:53

UndertheCedartree · 03/07/2024 20:46

We have HAF here but it is only for 4 hours and although they say to speak to them about SEN I've not come across anywhere to take my autistic DD.

Show quote history

Here's what ours look like.

Just at the cut off for free school meals
RubySloth · 03/07/2024 20:48

UndertheCedartree · 03/07/2024 20:46

We have HAF here but it is only for 4 hours and although they say to speak to them about SEN I've not come across anywhere to take my autistic DD.

Show quote history

On the timetable, they have sen only activities and generally all day. It's ashame if yours don't.

UndertheCedartree · 03/07/2024 20:46

RubySloth · 03/07/2024 20:37

Yes, all free.

Show quote history

We have HAF here but it is only for 4 hours and although they say to speak to them about SEN I've not come across anywhere to take my autistic DD.

Cparrot · 03/07/2024 20:40

And pension will be taxed when you retire.

RubySloth · 03/07/2024 20:37

UndertheCedartree · 03/07/2024 19:55

And that's all free?

I've never even seen anything for SEN children.

Show quote history

Yes, all free.

Just at the cut off for free school meals
Cparrot · 03/07/2024 20:27

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 03/07/2024 13:49

The cut off wage for free school meals is £7400pa. Are you sure you're only just over that?

How can you both be paying max into pension if you earn below £7400?
But at least you are working and paying into pension so will have company and government pension.

MeinKraft · 03/07/2024 19:55

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Trying to stir up a bit of outrage at the poors the night before the election.

UndertheCedartree · 03/07/2024 19:55

RubySloth · 03/07/2024 14:32

Maybe it's area dependent but our local council offers, X activities a day but are similar so every Monday is escape room but that's 1 hour for ks3/4 & ks1/2 have a full day of activities and sen get a full day.

Show quote history

And that's all free?

I've never even seen anything for SEN children.

Sprogonthetyne · 03/07/2024 19:54

Our councils HAF programme (the free summer camps), also offer 10% of places to other groups. Low income non FSM families are one of groups, so might be worth looking up if there's something like that where you live.

My kids get to attend because they have SEN (on of the other groups), I had to email to get their accounts verified, but now can book places on the councils website.

UndertheCedartree · 03/07/2024 19:51

The food and activities programme is only for a few hours, 4 days a week for 4 weeks. It's not like a proper holiday club you send them to if you are at work.

nightmaries · 03/07/2024 19:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

AnotherCountryMummy · 03/07/2024 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

fiddleleaffig · 03/07/2024 19:44

Leah5678 · 03/07/2024 14:26

Mine qualify for fsm but don't get six weeks of free holiday club 🤔 in fact I've never heard of this being a thing. Are your friends exaggerating to piss you off

We get 4 weeks here and it's only for 4 hours each day.
I'm not knocking it though, my dc love it. They became eligible whilst I was at uni doing my pgce, and will continue to until they finish their current stage of education. We're not all scroungers refusing to work Wink

JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam · 03/07/2024 19:27

Just a thought….UC don’t like a couple who aren’t earning the AET, so either this couple has caring responsibilities which stop he AET.

Or this post is a troll post.

iamtheblcksheep · 03/07/2024 19:15

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Psspsspssssss · 03/07/2024 19:01

OnAndOnAndonAgain · 03/07/2024 18:54

Some of you really do fall for any old shit

I've reported the thread

OnAndOnAndonAgain · 03/07/2024 18:54

Some of you really do fall for any old shit

ToWonderWhyIBother · 03/07/2024 18:28

RedHelenB · 03/07/2024 17:56

That is such a middle class response. You are on very lie earnings to get fsm, be lucky to have a pension at all.

Show quote history

Can I just point out that when my children were at school I didnt receive free school meals, didnt pay into a pension and still dont as I need every penny I earn to pay bills

magnoliablooms · 03/07/2024 18:21

Curtainpoles · 03/07/2024 18:05

Surely the issue is that it appears to be a cliff edge - where earning just over the FSM threshold actually means you suddenly lose a lot of extra support, adding up to losing more than the value of your extra pay.

I may have misunderstood as it's not something affecting me but it sounds that way from OP's post.

I believe that is the issue but OP makes themselves nearer the cliff edge by paying the max into their pension. They say they struggle to feed their kids and are overdrawn but they have money they can allocate to that.

Coffeerum · 03/07/2024 18:20

Peoplearebloodyidiots · 03/07/2024 17:36

Clearly not struggling if they have the luxury of making max pension contributions...therefore scrounging - in response to the options you have presented.

Show quote history

The whole post is obviously fictional considering there isn’t a max you can pay into your pension.

ToWonderWhyIBother · 03/07/2024 18:18

RedHelenB · 03/07/2024 17:56

That is such a middle class response. You are on very lie earnings to get fsm, be lucky to have a pension at all.

Show quote history

I am anything but middle class, have worked for years as a widowed mum of 2 kids earning minimum wage and struggling with childcare, bills food etc etc...but thank you for thinking i'm middle class thats a step up from the gutter where I currently am!!!!!

Psspsspssssss · 03/07/2024 18:11

RedHelenB · 03/07/2024 17:56

That is such a middle class response. You are on very lie earnings to get fsm, be lucky to have a pension at all.

Show quote history

Except that OP claims they both max out their pensions!
I've reported this thread also OP there's an obvious way out surely? Stop contributing so much to the pensions then you can pay for the holiday camps. Jeez.

Curtainpoles · 03/07/2024 18:05

Surely the issue is that it appears to be a cliff edge - where earning just over the FSM threshold actually means you suddenly lose a lot of extra support, adding up to losing more than the value of your extra pay.

I may have misunderstood as it's not something affecting me but it sounds that way from OP's post.