To ask why do people not working claiming FSM get this for free?

[Sprinkledusting]

I’ve just discovered if you claim FSM and even if you’re not working, you can send your child to morning/after school club for free. And not just in our school either.
There are also sports clubs and holiday clubs during school holidays that state they are free for those who claim FSM. To claim free school meals your income has to be so low that you’re not working full time or not working at all, which of the people I know, most are not.
But those who are working have to pay for breakfast club/holiday clubs.

Can someone explain to me the logic behind this? As I simply don’t understand it.

Beautifully put.

I notice these types never respond when you suggest they swap lives and see how they like it.

If it's so bloody appealing, lower your income so you're entitled to it too. After all it's such an attractive prospect.

I was (adult DC now) a struggling single parent, but always worked. Part time hours when second DC was born. I have seen and been in the company of, those 'struggling' parents.

In many cases I have experienced the 'absent' (non contributing) parent is actually residing in the property, and the resident, primary caregiver is working cash in hand, this is very common. A family member did exactly this, so first hand experience.

I actually know of someone now, has a child, working cash in hand, rent paid/lovely car and nice holidays, not an unstable home in the least.

I doubt many posters on this thread have any experience of what really goes on out there.

Not everything is what it seems..

This!

If you find yourself punching down, you're usually angry at the wrong people.

I love this, @sprigatito

You think families with a maximum income of £7,400 have the best clothes, cars etc. If you’re really that jealous why not try having a household income of £7,400 per year.

You ever heard of punching down?

look it up.

Absolutely this ^^

I think many people here are missing the point

,Applicants for free school meals who are in receipt of Universal Credit must have an equivalent annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 in order to be eligible for free school meals.

This sounds are wonderfully generous and worthy but the key point is that the £7400 pa is AFTER benefits have been received - so someone could be getting all their UC help (could be £20,000 pa) but that is not taken into account only their income from employment which being below the personal allowance means they pay no tax either.

Someone working 10 hours at minimum wage or not working at all would benefit from it. Not only that but once awarded it is given until the end of either primary or secondary school.

Yes children who are on the breadline absolutely should get FSM and help but we all know that there are freeloaders and benefit cheats out there working cash in hand who should put their children first but are seemingly unable or unwilling to do so.

Wow what a judgemental statement 😡 what’s your basis for that wildly insulting comment?

So sell your house, go into rented , quit your job and claim fsm. You have choices. I bet those who claim fsm woukd live to own their own home.

To keep them fed and stimulated in a warm environment.......nothing to be jealous of. In all honesty it amazes me how anyone on benefits copes with such a low income. Anything the schools can do to help the dc and give them some respite can only be a good thing.

Imagine being jealous of people so poor they need free food for their children.

All children get free school meals where I live which is wonderful because the threshold for them often means a large swarth of vulnerable kids get left out. It also cuts the administrative cost next to nothing, and it's great for the kids to all eat together without any possible stigma. It also means the kids are exposed to new dishes and ingredients.
I would absolutely give free breakfast and free activity clubs to families under a certain income threshold. I live in one of the most deprived boroughs in the country and the effects of child poverty are painfully visible.

It’s hard not to be envious when you’re working hand to mouth and breaking even with childcare.

There are also many families who do a good job of not “struggling” despite everyone telling us that’s what’s happening.

When I left my abusive ex, had a breakdown and became very unwell. I had to rely on universal credit, my children became entitled to FSM.

Sorry but there’s really nothing at all to be jealous of, my incoming finances were so low I couldn’t afford to feed the kids more than two meals a day. And I didn’t eat at all. No heating, no internet etc. I’m really not sure what about that is jealousy inducing. Life was utterly bleak and I was suicidal.

There’s no such thing as a funded breakfast or after school club where I live. And the holiday activities don’t cater for SEN kids nor is there ever (or was ever) any free spaces in them. They get booked up so fast.

Trust me, even though it’s hard now. Paying the bills on one wage and not being entitled to help. Life is still far better now than it was back then.

So the kid gets fed

They have to cut it off somewhere they can't afford it for everyone so they give it to the absolute poorest kids

@MolkosTeenageAngst WOW what a massive assumption!! If you have a mortgage then you don't "own your home" YET. Absolutely NO guarantee of 'securing' a future because you have a mortgage AND probably never have the opportunity to be given council or HA properties if you couldn't pay said mortgage. What utter twaddle!

And when you're older (and assuming youve paid the mortgage and do actually own your home) you'll be paying for your own care/care home, so NO inheritance to leave to the DC.

@Sprinkledusting I used to be sad, and you have every right to be, it's not that you (or I) begrudge, you'd just like some of that for yourself, I'd say that's pretty normal.

There are definitely children out there who are in dire situations, and desperately need the help, and I have absolutely no issue with that whatsoever, equally I understand the feelings of those (like myself and @Sprinkledusting) who are working their arses off just to survive, when there are so many free loaders, and believe me, there are a lot!

Sorry but people need to get a grip. The cost of childcare has never been a secret, people know what they sign up for when having kids. It's a temporary evil.

I agree but they have to have SOME selection criteria. They can't say "you have a shit home life have free school meals and holiday club" they have to have some sort of hard line criteria otherwise it's too subjective and you get people going ..but what about meeeeeeee

Well then, by that logic free or subsidised childcare shouldn’t be available to anyone? Those in the groups who are entitled will have had same foresight as those who are not?

They should have yes but for whatever reason they can't afford to feed their kids so we need to feed them

It's available to those who meet the criteria, again which is no secret.

It's like people want these kids to have an even harder time of it!

Does this help?