School Meals Ever 6??

[Federal]

I am confused about my eligibility for school meals.

2 years ago I was unemployed and so my son was eligible for the free school meals.
I have since got a job and moved counties.

My son is now in year 7 and initially was told by the school he was eligible for FSM as it just carries over from the previous authority.
However now we have been told by the council we are not.

I’m not on any benefits anymore (apart from child benefit) but am confused about the Ever6.

Is he entitled? And if not, will I be getting a bill for the FSM he has already eaten since September?

Yes he is definitely still entitled until the end of year 11. It’s not ever six though that is pupil premium. He has fsm as he is has transitional protection.

Ever 6 is the pupil premium funding that the school gets for your child for 6 years after they no longer qualify for FSM. The LA may not have caught up with your move so the funding continued. You shouldn’t be back charged for it.

Ever six is irrelevant @exLtEveDallas as the op’s ds is currently entitled to fsm.
@Federal see page 10
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/700139/Free_school_meals_guidance_Apr18.pdf

Oh ok, thanks.
So the FSM entitlement still runs on even though I’m not on benefits anymore?

Yes until the stage of education at the end of the UC rollout. As you ds is already in high school it will continue until her stops being CSA.
However a new council checking his current eligibility will show as not eligible for fsm as the system looks at current circumstances only. You may have to go into the council, print off some stuff from the link and reiterate that your ds has transitional protection.

*he

@MyDcAreMarvel thanks. I’ll use that. Seems a bit weird, but very welcome as money is very tight. We are just over the benefits threshold so no help for anything.

I was on ESA not Universal Credit though, hopefully that won’t make a difference.

And he managed to do 2 weeks in year 6 for in this new county. And then obviously HS since gone up to year 7 (new senior school)

It won’t matter, I recently helped my friend who was on tax credits. I will warn you I did a stage two appeal on her behalf before it was sorted!
It can be difficult when you are just over the threshold for benefits but still low income/have high housing costs etc.

Pm me if the council try and stand their ground. I have the letter/documents saved I could delete her details and send you them.

When did you get the new job and come off benefits? Was your DS in year 6 or 7?

I’m reading your post as year 6, in which case the end of the phase would have been primary, wouldn’t it?

@RafaIstheKingofClay I’m reading your post as year 6, in which case the end of the phase would have been primary, wouldn’t it? no it ends at the child’s stage of education when the UC rollout is complete. That hasn’t happened yet.

Protected pupils

Existing recipients of FSM do not lose entitlement and will be protected until 31 March 2023.

Any pupil gaining eligibility for FSM during the rollout of Universal Credit will keep their eligibility until 31 March 2023
After 31 March 2023 any pupil losing eligibility will continue to be transitionally protected until the end of their current phase of education, example primary/secondary
Schools should flag pupils as “protected pupils” in their management information systems as this will be needed for school data collections.
All protected pupils will be identified on schools’ free school meals list. Due to the transitional protection, eligibility for FSM is pupil based and no longer family based, and you may have cases of one sibling entitled to FSM and the other not.

I hate fsm we have a really low income and get hb, tc and wtc yet cant get any help with fsm as we have not been moved over to universal credit yet I know someone who's both parents work full time and get fsm it should be free for all kids

@Bubblesandsqueak1 it’s the wtc not the pack of UC that stops you being eligible. The person you mentioned will have TP.

@RafaIstheKingofClay
New job (end of ESA) Oct 2020
Moved - June 2021 Son did 2 weeks yr 6
Now - son in yr 7

Seems I’ll be ok though, so thank you all for your help.
I’m might have to message you @MyDcAreMarvel if I don’t get anywhere. Thanks so much for the offer!

@Federal no prob.