To not understand the threshold for free school meals?

[AllTheBloodyWashing]

I am a lone parent to 11 year old twins who are starting secondary school this week.
I work part time and earn under £16000pa
and get a top-of universal credit, I applied for free school meals for my dc but it has come back and I have been declined.

I’m honestly so upset and really don’t know how I’m going to cope with this extra payment each week for my dc to eat at school, I’m barely scraping by as it is and have just used my last £20 to top-up their dinner cards so they can at least have something for the next two days.

so aibu to not really get the threshold for it, when so many families are really struggling at the moment.

I agree that £7,400 is low. However nobody working is only getting £7,400 are they. The govt agree this is not enough so pay benefits on top, out of which they expect people to buy food?
Supposedly you are always better off in work so it shouldn't be that case that someone earning more than 7400 so not qualifying for FSM, has less money than someone earning less than 7400. Someone upthread said this is about 16hrs at minimum wage - isn't that the minimum amount of work you have to do to qualify for WTC? So people working less than this won't qualify for much. I think the govt prob think for those earning over the threshold they'll get WTC which can be used for food as they no longer get FSM.
It's rubbish though as it all just means you aren't really better off working more as you lose these little entitlements which add up to a lot, like FSM, help with school uniforms etc.

And schools shouldn't be serving junk like burgers when for those on FSM their parents are relying on this being their main meal for the day. There are loads of cheap filling options that are easy to make in bulk that would be better, like big dishes of pasta with tomato, veg and chicken. Even a jacket potato with a healthy filling would be better.

@KweenieBeanz working tax credit is a relatively small amount. I work 32 hours at just over nmw. My working tax is less than £30 a week. I've got 2 kids, so add on free uniform to that and then it has been totally wiped out and more tbh. Mine have school dinners twice a week as thats what we can afford and they prefer it. It's a ridiculously low threshold. With the cost of living I def think it needs changing. Wales are changing it gradually over next few years for primary.

But presumably you also get CTC which could also contribute to packed lunch costs? Plus child benefit? Even twice a week is more than lots of high earning families choose to pay for because it just isn't a good use of money, 2x school lunches at £5 a day in secondary, twice a week, is £20 a week. That's an absolute rip off. Even at primary level when the meals are £2.50 I don't think it's worth it.
I should stress though that I'm playing devil's advocate here and I agree that threshold for FSM is incredibly low, I mean with the energy prices coming in Oct if you only earnt £7,400 like half would be gone just on gas/elec!

School meals and a bus pass works out at just under £100 a month for our eldest who's starting high school tomorrow.🙄

@Kashmirsilver that's crazy! My oldest is at high school and it's ridiculous the cost of meals, its like a cafe. I allow him £3 a day for the 2 days he has dinners. He was spending over £4.50 a day at times! The proper dinners are £2.60 there, so it should be enough. You don't need a pizza at break time! I've told him he can always take a piece of fruit or a packet of crisps.

@KweenieBeanz come winter the school dinners may have to be stopped anyway. Its my choice atm cause my youngest isnt great at eating cold lunches, she's so fussy. Who knows what lies ahead though atm.

With this government if you have children it is your job to feed them and pay for childcare paying as much as the full price as possible.

Meanwhile they as MPs get subsidised food and bars at the Houses of Parliament so they pay as little as possible.

Oh it if it is mentioned by a footballer that the government is doing wrong by starving kids he is told to stay in his lane by them.

Agreed.

Makes the Government not wanting to fund free meals throughout the holidays even more despicable.

Lots of teachers have a 'stash', usually pot noodles, cup a soup or the like.

No it's not a substitute for a meal but it is warm.

Some teachers even manage a toaster.

I had no idea it was so low. That's ridiculous.

The rules say:

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax 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)
Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.
Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:
• younger than the compulsory age for starting schooll_
• in full-time education
If your child is eligible for free school meals, they’ll remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they’re in on 31 March 2023.

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

Makes it even more shocking that there had to be a campaign and u turn for school meals in school holidays.
I don’t think the threshold was published as I’m sure the majority would agree it’s too low.

The 'stash' which teachers fund from their own pockets.

I thought that was obvious, but yes, self funded.

The trouble is it isn't always obvious to the general public. I don't think it can be said too often.

I’ve given food to students before. Not official but if staff are aware they will try do something.

@AllTheBloodyWashing did you manage to get anywhere with this?

I have given students food before as well but there’s no way I could afford to do it now and don’t know any colleagues who could afford it either.

Did you speak to the school, @AllTheBloodyWashing ? Did you get FSM at primary for them-I can’t remember what you said?

I would definitely go for packed lunches going forward though-it has always worked out hugely cheaper for us than paying for school dinners.

@Reachthetopshelf I called their primary and the council on Tuesday and was told, that they did receive it in reception, but as my income went up it was stopped and as I said we live in a borough where all children received Fsm I wouldn’t have known that I wasn’t entitled to it.

So there is no change, luckily the secondary school chose to give all year 7 pupils Fsm for the first week, so they had meals at school.
I have been shopping and we’re going to go with packed lunch and a bigger breakfast as some days they won’t be finishing until 4.30.

@Shinyandnew1 Yes they did get Fsm in primary, only due to the borough we live in.

I've been a single parent on a very low income and was really shocked that dd didn't qualify for fsm, it is shocking.

Now dd is college age and I earn much better money she has qualified for a full college bursary 🤷‍♀️

The system makes no sense.