To wonder how this person qualified for free school meals

[Sectionsofintercost]

Someone at work bought a house which is being extended before they move in, the pandemic has put the brakes on the moving in but she shares photos of what's being done to the house.

It was purchased over a year ago in order for them to get their child into the secondary school catchment.

I'm not sure where exactly they live now, if they're renting or own that house as well.

A few months ago she let slip that her daughter in yr7 is on free school meals. It's likely that her husband lost income due to the pandemic, he's self employed. I can see that would have impacted on their finances
I get full housing benefit but don't qualify for free school meals.

I am happy to pay for my DCs food at school as there are others much worse off than me but I would love to be able to afford the long term security of owning my own home. I think something dodgy must be going on.

It’s not really your business, is it?

Under the present circumstances I would wonder why you would give this headspace.

Where are you?...afaik schools are now shut 🙄

Mind your own business

I'd assume parents or someone is paying for their house and renting it too them. Advanced inheritance if you like.

Where are you?...afaik schools are now shut
Not shut to children of keyworkers

As my nana used to say keep your own house in order and don't worry about anyone else's

@Bikingbear
They definitely own the empty property.

Are you sure you arent entitled to FSM? Do you get HB through UC or are you on the old system? The income threshold is significantly higher on UC than tax credits. You also only need to be below the income threshold for the month you're applying for to qualify rather than looking at your whole years wages.

What do you want to happen? Even if you “report” them, no idea who you would report them to by the way. If they subsequently get the free school meals taken away from them, the authorities aren’t going to give them to you as a reward for dobbing in this other family so why would it concern you?

So you can see where their income may have evaporated, but you can’t translate that into why they could qualify for FSM? Really?

What's it got to do with you, mind your own business.

It could be numerous things. It could be genuine or it could be dodgy. If the husband was self-employed it could be easier to hide income. My STBXH had a limited company and paid himself a tiny wage so we qualified for things we really shouldn't have, considering he earned a six figure salary and owned the house outright. While morally dubious it was all legal though.

There's really no point wondering about the financial affairs of others. No good will come of it.

Are you sure you arent entitled to FSM? Do you get HB through UC or are you on the old system? The income threshold is significantly higher on UC than tax credits. You also only need to be below the income threshold for the month you're applying for to qualify rather than looking at your whole years wages.

This is from the GOV.UK website, I'm on Universal Credit.

Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

They will have had to prove income at the time of claim.

Why would you fester on this for several months and then post?

Worry about your own benefits.

Just don’t worry about it as it’s none of your concern. Really easy stuff.

They would be getting UC to be entitled they are more generous with FSM entitlement than the old system

@Armychefbethebest

As my nana used to say keep your own house in order and don't worry about anyone else's

Very wise Nana! 😎

When you assume you make an ass out of u and me

You get fsm for six years after last being eligible to claim. A lot can change in six years.

They would be getting UC to be entitled they are more generous with FSM entitlement than the old system

They are on tax credits, I know this because there was the chance to work additional hours at work, on UC you don't benefit financially for working overtime as the benefits adjust accordingly each month. She wasn't affected by this as they get tax credits. I said she should notify someone if they FSM as her income had changed. She said she would speak to their accountant.

You get fsm for six years after last being eligible to claim. A lot can change in six years

Did you mean 6 months?

Why do you care?

Mortgaged up to the armpits doesn't mean they own anything- I couldn't give this headspace. They do qualify- whether 'fairly' or on the dodge, so that's it. What people portray online and how life really is........the two can't compare sometimes.