Just at the cut off for free school meals

[Velveteengreen]

We claim UC and are just under the threshold for FSM. Therefore all the holiday clubs and activities that we could access during school holidays, we’ll need to pay for ourselves. which isn’t feasible. We’ll just about be able to afford to feed our DS this summer holiday as it is and we’ll probably end up back in the overdraft.
I so understand there has to be a cut off point, but I can’t help feeling a little envious when friends who do qualify for FSM are talking about sending their DC into holiday camps for the entire 6 weeks for free. Plus a lot of them will get money from councils for food and essentials too. Same as last year.
I’m honestly not trying to upset anybody but I just feel really down and worried about the upcoming holidays.

It is no different to high earners putting AVCs into pensions to avoid the higher rate tax burden, investing in a pension potentially will reduce UC/pension credit needed later.

It's quite a lot different because they're actually contributing something in the first place ffs!

Maybe it's area dependent but our local council offers, X activities a day but are similar so every Monday is escape room but that's 1 hour for ks3/4 & ks1/2 have a full day of activities and sen get a full day.

It’s not remotely the same. The high earner is already contributing thousands in tax and NI.

This is odd. If your friends qualify for fsm, then they are earning less than 2 adults full time min wage. That means they don’t need 6 weeks full time childcare. Someone is seriously taking the piss here.

in your position if you cannot afford to feed your child, I’d try the food bank. With first visit hopefully not needing referral.

Stop paying the "full max" for bloody starters, if you can "barely afford to feed" your child as it is.

And don’t max out on pensions if you need the money now for food

Tens of thousands. Per year. They do indeed pay a heck of a lot.

Tbh it isn't make sense, how can two adults working qualify for FSM but at the same time max out their pension contributions.

The threshold is too low. There are so many families like yours who should qualify and don't. I don't have any advice, but you have my sympathy, and my anger on your behalf.

Errr this. I think lots of us would like the luxury of not working full time and it is a luxury. If you don’t have enough money = work more = earn more money

If you’re on UC then you can access subsidised childcare anyway, but if you and your partner are both working and brining in collectively under 7.4k then one of you clearly needs to work more than a handful of hours over the summer.

Why do you need summer childcare if neither of you barely work?

yes..this!?!

FYI there is no maximum pension contribution, only a tax free limit and I somehow doubt you are both throwing 60k into a pension pot.

A lot of these things are run in acceptance that these parents will just not look after their kids. I mean look at op..

What do you earn @Velveteengreen and what hours do you work ?

Either up your hours , lower what you pay into pension esp if struggling with food

Our son used to do them as he is ex LAC, they were generally 8:30-3:30 and a small fee made them 8:00-5:00, activities were very good, food was great and he enjoyed everyday.

The threshold is far too low as is the threshold for the healthy start card.

I would review cutting your hours for a short while and claim FSM and then up to your normal hours. School can then also claim PP from October and you are protected until 31 March 2025 even if you earn more.

Wow at these responses. Hide money away so you can claim. Wtaf.

reduce your pension if it’s tough right now so you can support your child.

I thought the threshold was about 17k?

Whilst I understand that it's the children who suffer here, the issue is that free school meals are meant to be for the most deprived children. Not just anyone who can't be bothered to work a bit more. The OP already receives plenty of state support. Worst case, the kid could eat peanut butter sandwiches and an apple for lunch all week - costing a couple of quid and presuming the parents feed them breakfast and lunch all year round anyway.Where is the bottomless money pit you think exists?

Do,you both work full time op?

Both playing the system IE working fewer hours or putting more into a pension to claim something they aren't entitled to. Not sure the higher earner should be claiming moral superiority?