No more free school meal vouchers?

[dottydotterson]

What do you think of the governments decision to end the free school meal vouchers for the summer? Do you agree or not?

Ah, I've just done some calculations and I think it is different for Universal Credit as the threshold is lower. My apologies if I'm wrong, I'm still on the old style WTC so it doesn't apply to me.

Confused at this post as the latest I read was they WERE doing school vouchers throughout the summer holidays!?

• @peppapigisscottishThis is the criteria. Clearly says you are entitled if you get child tax credits provided you are also NOT entitled working tax credits.*

I know what the criteria are.

I receive wtc.

My children get fsm.

Stop accusing me of either lying or of fraud. If you can't or won't do that then fuck off.

I am a single parent on minimum wage and I am not entitled because I get working tax credits.

So am I and I legitimately and legally get fsm.

multiple children from multiple relationships, parents that either don't work or work in low paid jobs that are surprised that feeding 3/ 4 children are expensive every single bullshit channel 5, daily mail, stereotype going. Of course there are feckless parents, believe it or not there are well off feckless parents (I should know, I was raised by one), but you don’t punish the children.

@peppapigisscottish I'm not accusing you of fraud. I was just wondering how it's possible when it says online that you don't get them if you receive WTC. But from what I've worked out, it's different under Universal Credit if you earn under £7400 which is possible if you're part time on minimum wage.

Ok. Once a child has had fsm they keep getting them until they finish the phase of education they are in. My secondary age children will get them until they leave, primary the same but not at secondary.

Thank you, I understand now.

Of course there are feckless parents, believe it or not there are well off feckless parents (I should know, I was raised by one), but you don’t punish the children.

this

Malbecblooms I really dislike the accusatory tone of your post. Have you ever considered that some women might not have had access to good education? Have slipped through several nets to get to the invidious and unenviable positions that some inevitably find themselves in?

It's all well and good to spout off about 'being sure, waiting till you know the marriage is secure', but surely, you can't be that naive - or smug? You only have to look at the relationships board here to see the women who thought their marriages were secure, finding that this isn't the case. Yes, it's a fairly specific sample but still, finding that your marriage has failed isn't something that can be predicted as you seem to think it can.

I fall into none of those categories because if my marriage were to fail, I'm fortunate enough to be covered and my children wouldn't suffer. I'm thankful that I won't be in the position of 'shifting sands', so much so that I don't need to be pontificating and finger-wagging on a board where many affected women are. Urgh.

@Malbecblooms - have you volunteered at a food bank?

Malbecblooms - have you volunteered at a food bank?

Nope my volunteering goes elsewhere.

I've no doubt that some people make good life choices and then fall on hard times. Thats what benefits are there for - that short period of time between jobs when you are waiting to start work again.

I come from a working class background. A nice one, where we had caravan holidays but I wanted more from life than that. Husband comes from a single parent family growing up on a council estate. It wasn't usual for people from our backgrounds to have degrees. I worked 2 jobs to get through uni and volunteered to get experience in my field. Husband did the same. Went on to do my master's whilst working full time. Didn't try for children until we owned our own home.

My point is, I wasn't born with a silver spoon, I worked so hard for everything so it's not like I was handed everything and can't imagine what lack of privilege looks like. I believe so much is about what you put into life and what choices you make.

People can be supported to better their lives. I would rather we focus on fixing problems than temporary solutions.

People on minimum wage jobs work hard so not sure what point you are trying to make?

The notion that hard work and financial gain are directly correlated is a fallacy.

The notion that hard work and financial gain are directly correlated is a fallacy.

Depends what you mean. You might both work a 9 hour day but working a checkout in Asda is not the same as performing neuro surgery or managing a multimillion pound business.

Leaving school at 16 and going to work as a Waitress might be physically demanding and long hours, it's not the same as doing a degree and later a PhD and working your way up through a company.

Yes of course...

It's a combination of talent, hard work, luck, connections, personality, motivation, background and upbringing.

But people who try to convince me that they are successful purely because they worked hard always make me laugh. Funny how the most successful people I know come from supportive well off families...

My point is, I wasn't born with a silver spoon, I worked so hard for everything so it's not like I was handed everything and can't imagine what lack of privilege looks like. I believe so much is about what you put into life and what choices you make

You’ve been lucky. You made choices that worked out. You could, crucially, afford to volunteer to get ahead. I have a similar background to yours, I work hard, there is no doubt about that. I didn’t have children until we were in a position to privately educate. 2 babies and half a pregnancy later and my ex walked out. We have been reliant on benefits ever since. I teach for a living although circumstances - disability in one child and my mother’s dementia - meant something had to give and I shifted to supply and am now in a part time position to keep the balls in the air. I am not feckless but I have not been reliant on benefits for a short period of time, I have always worked hard and continue to do so including not just the teaching but exam marking and tutoring. What happened to me was bad luck. Nothing more, nothing less. My choices have not been poor or worse.

@LovelyIssues

Confused at this post as the latest I read was they WERE doing school vouchers throughout the summer holidays!?

They are. The thread was started before the decision reversal

Anyone that thinks that hard work alone makes for financial success is an idiot.

You need luck, at multiple times in life, to go with your hard work.

If you don’t have the rights parents then you need the luck to have grandparents or schooling that can help that balance.

You need the luck to either have the chance for college or to find a job that will allow you further education or progress.

You need luck as an adult that your partner won’t turn violent, won’t leave, or die or have an accident.

If you have a disabled child you need luck to live in an area where there is support and a suitable school.

If you are born in the wrong circumstance, or or your circumstances go wrong then you need luck that people who seem to think everyone who struggles is someone lazy and feckless hasn’t had too much sway on the welfare legislation.

Hard work is not the biggest equaliser. Luck is.

Malbec how lovely it worked for you. At 40 I was in your position. I worked hard as a teacher, husband had a good job, House, kids, cars, holidays ...

Then he left. Pays the minimum. My teacher wages just about cover the mortgage .... I work my arse off teaching, tutoring and doing anything else to make ends meet.

Put yourself in someone else's shoes rather than being so pompous

@Waxonwaxoff0 I also receive both child tax credits and working tax credits but still entitled to free school meals because on a very low income. It's because income is below £16180

@Waxonwaxoff0 I'm still on legacy system though

@Malbecblooms

The notion that hard work and financial gain are directly correlated is a fallacy.

Depends what you mean. You might both work a 9 hour day but working a checkout in Asda is not the same as performing neuro surgery or managing a multimillion pound business.

Leaving school at 16 and going to work as a Waitress might be physically demanding and long hours, it's not the same as doing a degree and later a PhD and working your way up through a company.

What would happen if everybody was a neurosurgeon or managing a million pound business but nobody worked in ASDA? Where would we be for teachers if everybody did higher paid jobs?

Do you have a high flying job as a neurosurgeon or similar? Does your DP? Do you claim any benefits?

@TheFairyCaravan

This thread is a disgrace.

We've got a 22yo man who is more in tune and more empathetic towards child poverty than women and parents. A lot of people with the "don't have kids if you can't afford them" attitude are going to regret it quite soon once the recession hits and they start losing their jobs. I bet they won't begrudge free school meals and food vouchers in the holidays then.

Couldnt agree more.

@wildchild554 my income is below that too and I'm not entitled to them. I think I understand though from what peppa said, if you were entitled to school meals before you got working tax credits then it carries on until the end of the school period.