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.

I had no idea it was so much higher.

I've posted this before but seems really weird that once on fsm it's whole of school

My friend during covid struggled as se and started uc and got awarded fsm for Reception as income very low

A year later she was back on her feet. Earning good money

Told school wanted off the list and they said she couldn't

It's whole of school life for her child

That's madness but seems the rules

She donates food she buys with the holiday school meals vouchers she gets

As was told if she didn't claim them they go to waste as have been paid /provided for

Should she accepts them and buys food and drops off at food bank

It was much higher in England and Wales until the Tories slashed the threshold in 2019. Arlene Foster agreed to vote for the cut as long as NI was exempt from it and I think FSM is probably a devolved issue so in Scotland, we make our own rules.

Why blame the government? For what? Benefits being too generous?

I hate the thought of kids going hungry over school holidays.

You know that isn't what I meant. Personally I don't think they are generous enough.

That is why I work extra in the school holidays when I have childcare.

Do you get it everyday for the whole day for 6 weeks, though?

No, they have to offer 16 days spread over at least four weeks, if the summer holidays are less than six weeks they have to offer 12 days spread over 3 weeks. Each day has to be at least four hours and include one meal that meets primary food standards.

Yes, I know. But the OP suggested people get the entire 6 weeks full days for free.

First of all you're presuming I'm middle class which I am very much not. I'm on minimum wage.

I'm not saying they shouldn't have fsm (although personally I think they should either be free to all or not free at all), but why are working parents who are on low incomes penalised yet again. I don't need holiday clubs as my youngest is 16 but I have done in the past and I've had to pay. People who don't work don't need holiday childcare do they yet it's free to them.

If you are both actually paying 120k per year combined into your pensions....
You can pay for food for your child and summer clubs you just dont want to.

I say this as a high earner who gets no childcare relief / subsidy at all.

@Velveteengreen how much do you earn

If just over to qualify for fsm then why not up your hours , if struggling and uc will help with childcare costs

Or pay less into pension

What hours do you work/need covered in school holidays

OP just apply for FSM in a month where no wages are reported in your UC assessment period. This often happens when you had one month reporting two lots of wages and the follow with zero. It's a pain but the month with zero will give you full UC for that month plus you can apply for FSM. You put your nationality insurance number into an online form, which generates a certificate that you then give to the school.

Or drop your hours for a month.