To be surprised that getting higher rate care componant for PIP doesnt get free school meals

[BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability]

Was looking into it ready for when ds1 starts school. Thought it was odd, given that so much of the 'care' part focuses on food prep, that a food benefit that already exists isnt given to disabled parents who are already assessed and acknowledged to struggle when it comes to feeding themselves?

But then again, disabled parents dont exist do they. So i guess i shouldnt be surprised really.

So in that case, aibu to think parents who recieve higher rate care (or ever any rate care!) should be included in the fsm list?

Being a disabled parent to small children is bloody hardiI've been there mine are older now one an adult you feel so bloody useless at times,

Dh gets higher rate care and mobility, as does dd1. When we're both working we're on around 98,000, so free school meals would be grossly unfair.

It was issues such as this, why under "ECM", children with disabled Carers were automatically a "Chil In Need", this would of allowed the school to tap into other funding sources.

There was an outcry by disabled parents and patents of disabled children, who also didn't want this.

If a family is really struggling, a solution can be found.

But the need has to be there and it is frustrating that money given to make your life better quality, has to go on the Care of your child, so once again, as a disabled person, you lose out.

Could you pay ypur ckeaner to be a sort of house keeper and they could make the lunches ,

Sorry, didnt mean that to sound snarky mrsjayy

He already cares for me unpaid when hes here (as he earns above the £100 pw you can get and get carers allowance)

But as he works shifts, hes away a lot, comes home literally to sleep. So he could do lunch for them, but not all the time. Sometimes he could do four meals in a week, other times only one.

It is shit. I'm at breaking point.

You didn't sound sarky just pissed off its fine don't worry about it

Thanks birds, that last line sums it up quite well.

I'm having a bit of a bad day. I do know why its not unlimited, now, when i think about it. I guess i was thinking along the lines of before they cut the child benefit, and hadnt really thought about it in detail until today, and then (on top of the bus fare saga that is no nearer resolution) i got all upset about how bloody unfair it is.

So, anywho... Would anyone agree that a higher threshold for parents with disabilities would perhaps make sense?

I think the disabilities thing needs to be taken out of the argument, but a higher threshold is needed in general.

This is my problem with this daft new system in England though. I would much rather see the money used to help those who actually need it during their whole time at school (if needed) not just all children for 3 years

Can you use child benefit or tax credits to pay for school meals?

Why though sirzy? If costs are higher because of it, surely its relevant?

I cant get over infant primary only gets free school dinners yes I think the premium should be higher but there does need to be a cut off which means families like yours suffer it isnt fair

A fit parent can usually knock together a packed lunch a disabled or ill parent might struggle it sounds so simple get up get the lunch sorted and out the door its cheaper to make a lunch than pay for dinners that is what beyond is on about really,

Because you already get money towards those costs. It may not be enough money, but then at the same time many other families don't get enough money for whatever reason.

I am not for a second begrudging anyone support, but when it comes to things like FSM I think it need to be an across the board cut off point not a system which tries to second guess which families need it more

She gets money to care for herself though it is just hard sometimes with 1 wage 2 kids anc extra needs

Maybe the cut off is flawed and needs rejigging

I'm not disputing it's hard. But it's equally as hard for others at the cut off for different reasons.

It shouldn't be a battle of who has it hardest, but trying to provide support for more people which increasing the limit across the board would do.

Yes it is hard im not disputing that honestly

Do people think in theory than parents who receive DLA for their disabled children should also get FSM I,m not trying to be contentious just curious ds2gets MRC DLA as he is autistic and has learning difficulties he will be entitled to the FSM under the new infant school thing from September but afterwards?

No lets not get into that hardest debate or we will be in shoeboxes 7n the middle of tbe road eating breadcrumbs

Not disagreeing that it should be higher for everyone, but (and sorry for playing its-harder-olympics!) even if you raise the cut off to whatever, someone (not just me ) who cannot prepare a packed lunch will have it harder than someone who can but needs extra money. So they will still be worse off than the other person.

Oo, dont know x2, the only queries i've seen from that side are people who struggle to get their asd child to eat certain things, so they'd struggle with compulsory fsd. What do you think?

(By the way, when i said pip/dla miles upthread, i meant because not everywhere has swapped to pip yet, and existing claims are still on dla too.)

Even if your husband works shifts I can't see why he can't make lunches and put everything ready in the fridge . Not trying to be unreasonable but by 6 a child could put its own pack lunch together under supervision . I think the FSM for all KS1 is a terrible idea ,the money would be better spent providing extra money for families who normally qualify for FSM during the school holidays .

Not sure was my ds has a great appetite although I know this is nt the same for all children with ASD but I suppose as its recognised in the tax credit system etc that bringing up children with ASD can be more expansive I just wondered what other peoples thoughts were ?

DLA is not means tested so, so why would it bring an automatic right to free school meals?