Free school dinners...

[Fluffyslippers02]

Just after some advice please, I was out of work last year, applied for free school meals and received them I am now working and I am still receiving FSM and the vouchers when DC are off school. Am I still entitled to these please? Im worrying if I am not. i will have to pay them back.

I have seen this, so I am thinking I should still be entitled to them...

<a class="break-all" href="//www.www.entitledto.co.uk/help/free-school-meals" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.www.entitledto.co.uk/help/free-school-meals

www.entitledto.co.uk/help/free-school-meals

First link didnt work hopefully this one will....

Once you/your children become entitled to FSM then even if financial circumstances improve, that entitlement carries on throughout their years in that school until they move up to the next school or finish school.

Schools don’t usually check once you’re entitled, they receive a pupil premium, so it’s up to you to contact the department if you think you’re not. Many people stay on them after they no longer qualify, it depends on your earnings and whether it’s tax credits or UC.

Ah, I see. Thank you

Whether you are still entitled depends on your income. They should stop once you are earning too much, the run on only applies to pupil premium

www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

@Imnotbent your comment isn't quite right.

Once qualified the children remain PP for a set time

Check op it doesn't sound like you should be getting them.

@Fluffyslippers02 FSM are ever 6 so children get them for 6 years regardless of a chance in eligibility.

@Fluffyslippers02 you should remain entitled until March 2022, even if now you are out of the threshold for qualifying.

@Mumofsend what’s not quite right about it? I also posted the link to March 2022.

They'll likely continue until the next school year/a year after you applied (depends on your area) but you can check with the school if you're concerned. You won't get in trouble if you're no longer elligble though, the scheme is there for children to be fed and looked after and they'll just be glad your children are. You won't have to pay it back x

Your children will be classed as 'ever 6' which means that they should be entitled to FSM for 6 years, in theory.
You could ask the school to remove them from FSM but I believe that the school can still claim the funding for it for six years.

Prepared to be told I'm wrong.

You should still be eligible until 31 March 2022. This was put into place when universal
Credits came into force (as a bit of a cherry to apply for UC instead of Tax credits).

The pupil premium is paid to the schools for 6 years (ever 6), after entitlement to FSM ceases.

I’m an office manager in a school and have a number of families in exactly this situation, I double checked with the local Authority who confirmed that the entitlement was still there. The confusion arose when younger siblings started at the school but were not eligible yet the older ones who were still at school continue to receive FSM.

Hope this helps.

Its 6 years after.

@Lachimolala

Once you/your children become entitled to FSM then even if financial circumstances improve, that entitlement carries on throughout their years in that school until they move up to the next school or finish school.

^ This. My children got FSM when I was a student, now I'm working they still get them because of this. Don't feel guilty, it's how it works.