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.

*It's perfectly relevant. The LA issue it because they believe it is needed. Take some social responsibility and make the decision yourself that if you don't need it, don't use for things it isn't intended for.

It isn't to be used as pleased at all. It's not a lottery win. Pathetic!*

So because the mum might occasionally spend £5 on a bottle of wine you feel the school should miss out on the additional funding? The funding that will assist in all of the children’s education? Ok

Irrespective of the rights and wrongs the OPs mum should mind her own business.

Do you do your job like a robot without ever thinking or observing what is going on? People frequently spend 8 or more hours of their day at work - and it's not like things aren't massively stressed for supermarket workers at the moment - are they supposed to completely switch off and never comment in general, anonymous terms about what their day has seen?

The LA issue it because they believe it is needed.

The LA make an assessment based on household income. They don’t make an assessment by looking in your cupboard and seeing what you already have or don’t have. They consider a household eligible if their income is low enough, regardless of whether the cupboards are full to bursting already or not. Why do you want people to buy food that will rot?

and if you are in position to receive financial support, you should be deeply ashamed to even consider wasting money on alcohol and cigarettes - when whatever you have should go to your kids

Child benefit is financial support, tax credits are financial support, universal credit is financial support, DLA is financial support, carers allowance is financial support, free school meals is financial support, etc etc. The government (local or national) decide on eligibility and make provision accordingly, are you saying that anyone in receipt of financial support should never drink, smoke, eat out?

There will always be children who’s parents are unable or unwilling to care for them, and in all honesty these schemes aren’t designed for those families - social work and statutory services will generally be involved because the extent of neglect or abuse goes far far beyond not getting a hot meal. Social care, welfare and support works across a continuum and most people sit somewhere in the middle, fsm provision serves a number of purposes it’s not just about providing the poorest of the poor hence universal provision for the youngest children.

If I tell you I’m going to buy your child shoes that they need but won’t give you the money til next Friday meaning you need to use your own money to buy the shoes tomorrow, who owns the £40 I give you next Friday?

Why would "you" buy a child shoes when Mum spends her money on wine and sweets?

Let me get this straight... you buy a child shoes because you think Mum is really struggling and can't afford them.

She buys the shoes and then when you give her the £40 next Friday she goes off to the pub because that £40 was actually her "treat money".

So yes, while you technically bought the shoes and not the pub trip, she didn't actually need the shoes because she could have missed the pub that month and bought her OWN child a pair of shoes instead of expecting you to do it.

You wouldn't be pissed off about this

If this was a thread in AIBU I can guarantee everyone would be calling her a cheeky fucker. 100%.

I wonder how many people (not necessarily just on this thread) would be horrified at the idea of food vouchers for low-income families being possibly used to buy anything except the absolute basics, and denounce them as disgusting for accepting the vouchers if they EVER have a bottle of wine, nice gateau or takeaway - but at the same time feel no shame whatsoever in bringing home £98K split between two parents and still claiming and keeping all of their child benefit?

For clarity, I am NOT saying that a couple on £98K should feel any shame at all in claiming child benefit - just pointing out the hypocrisy of anybody condemning the former but condoning the latter.

X-posted somewhat with Jelly there.

Great minds @Buffet

She buys the shoes and then when you give her the £40 next Friday she goes off to the pub because that £40 was actually her "treat money".

Perfect, thanks. That’s all you had to say.

instead of expecting you to do it.

Show me where I said she expected me to do it? All I said was I told you I was buying your child shoes.

*Why would "you" buy a child shoes when Mum spends her money on wine and sweets?

Let me get this straight... you buy a child shoes because you think Mum is really struggling and can't afford them.

She buys the shoes and then when you give her the £40 next Friday she goes off to the pub because that £40 was actually her "treat money".

So yes, while you technically bought the shoes and not the pub trip, she didn't actually need the shoes because she could have missed the pub that month and bought her OWN child a pair of shoes instead of expecting you to do it.

You wouldn't be pissed off about this hmm

If this was a thread in AIBU I can guarantee everyone would be calling her a cheeky fucker. 100%.*

Hahaha you’ve missed the point of the posters comment by light years.
They weren’t saying shoes in a scenario of wine and beer and the pub and probably cocaine.
They were trying to convey the concept of money already being alloted and how it doesn’t need to be the same 10 pound note to mean that £10 was spent on the child.

I get fsm vouchers, as I'm a student single parent. £45 pm per child, so £90. Only, they can only be used is Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Waitrose. There are no delivery slots, and one small Tesco near me; I couldn't afford to shop in Tesco anyway, even if it were a big one.

As such, I'm doing all the normal shopping in Aldi, like I always do. And planning on spending the FSM vouchers on the non essential shite we all like that's not bought in Aldi. As a treat. My vouchers will be being spent predominantly on cheese strings, chocolate, magazines, crisps and possibly wine - I'm generally a non drinker, but the lock down means I want it! Also gluten free things for a friend who can't currently afford them.

I could not give a fuck if I'm judged for it. Judge away. I'm buying all the food my family need anyway. What difference does it make which shops get vouchers and which money? It will absolutely look like I'm spending £90 a month in tesco vouchers on booze and snacks though...

I applied for school uniform grant in July of last year. I didn’t actually apply for FSM as my DC prefers to bring packed lunches. But it’s all one application so if you qualify for school uniform grant you qualify for FSM. So for all of this school year my DC has been entitled to FSM. That I haven’t claimed. I’ve been happily providing lunches myself. However, last week, two days after I did a fortnights worth of grocery shopping, my LA deposited £54 (two weeks worth of school dinners) into the bank accounts of everyone who was eligible for FSM. I didn’t ask for it, I didn’t tell them “I need money to feed my children, I have no money and empty cupboards” they just paid it in. Are people seriously saying that until I have stopped receiving that £54 a fortnight I can’t buy myself a single treat? And fwiw I haven’t had a drink (two rum and cokes actually) since May of last year. And it was October of 2018 before that. I have no intention of buying alcohol in Asda next week. But I might buy a new top or some nice chocolate or a book. Am I really not allowed to do that? Because I received FSM money? Really?

. They don’t make an assessment by looking in your cupboard and seeing what you already have or don’t have. They consider a household eligible if their income is low enough, regardless of whether the cupboards are full to bursting already or not
They don't because it isn't logistically possible so instead 5bey make an assumption on the basis of the information that's being shared. What they don't know is how much disposable income the family really has.

Is the LA happy to throw hard to find cash for specific purposes for it to be used on unecessary pleasures, not theyre not, especially when the money could go to people on the streets.

The whole 'well I ticked the right boxes, so I can do what I want' attitude is polluting our society. It only makes otherwise generous people not want to contribute.

Is the LA happy to throw hard to find cash for specific purposes for it to be used on unecessary pleasures, not theyre not, especially when the money could go to people on the streets.

1. it’s not being spent on unnecessary pleasures. It’s being spent on lunches for the child. The family paid for the pleasures themselves.

2. you think unclaimed FSM vouchers from the education board will be handed out to the homeless?

The whole 'well I ticked the right boxes, so I can do what I want' attitude is polluting our society.

Ever received child maintenance, or tax credits?

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll I do as it goes. You know what, judging people and gossiping about them to your daughter is shitty. I stand by my comment. The OPs mum should have minded her own fucking business.

How do you get these vouchers?

@Hoggleludo if your child gets FSM because of low income as opposed to KS1 then the school will organise.

It depends on where you are, each of the home nations are approaching it differently as are the local authorities within each nation. Best thing to do is contact your education department or school.

Prepared to be flamed but yeah I find that a bit disgraceful, surely if you don't need to buy food with them you don't need them at all. It's alright though, we will just add it to the pile of crippling debt the country will have, the school meal suppliers will be recieving government help in terms of furlough etc, so this is additional money. And before anyone says, plenty of people cant afford to buy a bottle of wine at the moment.

Alcohol and fags for £11.50? Which supermarket was this again, mine never has bargains like that.

@Yesmate. So my child is 5. Gets free school meals. I won’t get them? Because I’m not low income? (Which is fine btw. I’m just checking)

So if I go to aldi to buy 2 weeks worth of food because it's cheaper and then go to asda to spend the vouchers in place of the money I spent at aldi is that not cool?

I don't understand? Why are people buying wine? I thought they were for food? To survive?

Are the vouchers for people who are on Universal credit only?
I have 1 DC who is entitled to free school meal via the infant school (all reception, year 1 and year 2)
Would we be able to receive one at all?