Re: free school meal vouchers

[Hadenoughofitall441]

My mum works in a local supermarket, she told me today that at least 6 of the kids parents from dd 7 and DS 12 school came in to use them but spent them on alcohol. Now let me know if I’m being unreasonable but I find this totally out of order. She said it’s been happening last week aswell.
She said the cards have the kids names on so she knew what they were. She too is disgusted by this but obviously can’t say anything because it’s at work. One of the other customers said he thought it was wrong too.

@Booseysmom - apply here www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

Posted too soon! It’s an emotive subject, I get it, but referring to people - often single parents - as ‘beggars’ is really hurtful to the vast majority of people doing their best in a difficult situation, and perpetuates the ‘benefit scrounging’ myth. But I get you didn’t mean to apply it universally to FSM applicants.

Yep... sorry! My bad.

For what it's worth I'm a single parent too.

I have absolutely nothing against people in receipt of FSM and nothing against people claiming what they're entitled to claim.

I only take issue with people spending FSM money on non-essentials for themselves (and the people defending this behaviour).

The beggars can't be choosers statement was in direct response to someone arguing that they would buy wine because they don't like food Asda or whatever.

Hope that clarifies 😊

I couldn't afford to shop in Tesco anyway, even if it were a big one.

But if you have been given the vouchers then you can afford it - that is what they are for.

We also got the vouchers, they were for a shop that we don't normally shop at but we will certainly be making use of them once we're not self isolating. It's ridiculous to say you can't afford to shop somewhere when you have been given the money to pay for the food - of course you can afford it.

Ultimately people will and are entitled to comment on how you spend state funded money, it’s their taxes that paid for them.

all state funded money?

@Theholidayarmadillo4.. Thanks for the link

Yes, if you are in receipt of benefits, tax credits then yes people are entitled to comment.

For example, before the housing benefit cap was it right that someone was living in a house that two hard working parents couldn’t afford

Is it right that someone can cover the cost of their children’s food so uses state funding for other purposes.

No it’s not. MY TAXES have paid for that, people paying get to comment. Don’t like it, be self sufficient.

So your wrong to spend the money on wine. You can’t tell me otherwise. It’s my money youre spending.

Tadgh 👍🏻

Just applying on the link provided.
Will it take into account the fact the school closed 3 weeks ago or will it be from the date applied?

I think its always from the date you apply

Yes, if you are in receipt of benefits, tax credits then yes people are entitled to comment.

Good to know.

I’ll make sure to enquire after your spending habits when you’re drawing your state pension.

@Theholidayarmadillo4...thank you. I had no idea this is what you had to do to apply! It wasn't common knowledge was it? Unless i missed it!

No I don't think so! I was just reading the website which is how I stumbled across it. Hope it goes through quickly for you.

@Theholidayarmadillo4.. thanks

ive got no intention of taking a state pension. I’ll use my occupational pension. I haven’t taken a single benefit, not children benefit, housing, universal credit. At times over worked 3 jobs and have worked my way up the corporate ladder.

You can enquire how I spend my occupational pension if you want? But you’ll have no say over that. You DIDNT pay for it

Schools should be reminding parents in England that if their circumstances have changed they may now be entitled to FSM and to apply for them. This also helps schools as they will get Pupil Premium funding.

No it’s not. MY TAXES have paid for that, people paying get to comment. Don’t like it, be self sufficient.

I assume by being self sufficient you’ve never used the public education system, or the NHS because the vast majority of people aren’t actually self sufficient - we draw on looked resources to pay for services that we couldn’t pay for individually. So I’m assuming all your health, education, policing etc has all been paid for by you privately, and you’ve never drawn on a resource paid for by tax payers, otherwise you’re not self sufficient and apparently folk are entitled to comment on your spending.

Well I truly hope life fulfils your intentions for you and that you never find yourself having to rely on other people’s money. FWIW- I have precisely zero interest in what you spend any of your money on. I’m not sure why anyone would care.... not enough real problems to worry about maybe.

Ultimately people will and are entitled to comment on how you spend state funded money, it’s their taxes that paid for them

No. There is no entitlement - either legal or moral - that gives you a right to comment on how someone else spends their money.

You forget, somewhat conveniently, that by far the majority of benefit claimants are also in work.

My taxes pay for those services. How much tax do you pay into the system? No you take and then spend it on wine and have the audacity to tell me I can’t comment how my money gets spent.

Sounds like your taxes pay for an awful lot. They’ve paid for your entire education, all the NHS services you’ve ever used, all the benefits everyone else receives...

Indeed they have [my children are not in state schools]

My taxes pay for them too - very few people pay more in personal tax than they take out of the system in return, ie very few people are truly self sufficient. If you’re one of them, good luck to you.

I retract my offer to buy your DC shoes.

YANBU the vouchers are for food for the children.

chandlers sorry to be judgmental but I don't think they are intended for parents to have a 'treat'.

It's taxpayers money so for those working it seems a bit frivolous. There is a lot of food that could be bought that would last a few weeks.

Can't you see how awful it is to use vouchers intended for the children to buy alcohol? You seem to think it's clever too.

sorry to be judgmental but I don't think they are intended for parents to have a 'treat'.

Do you know, I think you might be right.

(Ps if you go ahead and say it anyway then you weren’t sorry )

It's taxpayers money so for those working it seems a bit frivolous.

I work. I don’t consider a book or a nice bit of chocolate to be frivolous.

Can't you see how awful it is to use vouchers intended for the children to buy alcohol?

If the children are already sufficiently and well fed? No- I can’t see why that’s awful. Can you explain why it’s awful if the intended purpose for the voucher has already been fulfilled?

You seem to think it's clever too.

You think, that I think buying alcohol is clever?