Meal money during holidays

[Angelsaz]

We live in a London borough and my 2 youngest go to school here so I get the £15 per week for each of them during the holidays. I was getting this for my eldest but he started college in a different borough so I've not had them at all for him this year. Surely this isn't fair he is 17 still in full time education and eats me out of house and home lol I'm not sure who to ask about it I feel kinda lost. He is still entitled to free school meals at collage so surely I should be entitled to it

The £15 meal money was only giving as good will during covid, it was never recieved for the schools to do this. Some kids recieved pack lunches made for them by school and you had to collect them from the school, some had shopping took to their homes. Round here I don't believe the schools

My 2 are on FSM and haven't had their vouchers this holiday. (15&12) So will be following with interest. I just assumed Labour had taken it away.

Children on FSM were given 3 weeks worth of vouchers for this summer holidays in our county, and have been given out every school holiday so far. I'm not sure what happens with the college, are you definitely not entitled? I'd ring them.

@ThisHangryPinkBalonz I would contact the school and ask what email address the vouchers have been sent to. Could they have been sent to dad's email? They should have been emailed before we broke up.

I've messaged the school but no answer as it's closed. Checked the father's and spam as well. Nothing has changed in the household and had them all previous holidays, so abit of a conundrum.

Wasn't this just a covid thing? I think it's up to each council to decide if they give them now so maybe where your DC goes to college doesn't do them.

He is 17? Why doesn't he have a holiday job? No he doesn't need meal vouchers for the holiday at his age

I have two kids in ft education in London , one in primary and one in sixth form in a different Borough. We don't get these vouchers during the summer any more. We get one before the Xmas holidays and free activity clubs for the summer with lunch included.

I understand your issue as it would actually work better to have it for the 6 weeks hols as its so expensive. We don't use the holiday clubs as our son is autistic and nothing is suitable and the older one is studying/spending time with friends instead of attending.

Could it be that the different borough he has moved to don’t provide this financial support?
Some schemes throughout the country went to application instead of automatic and many local authorities no longer have the funding to continue it past this summer. It was never a permanent benefit, always a post Covid temporary offering a bit like a cost of living payment.

It's dependent on the Local Authority and as we know they have no money. Your dc is 17! They can get a holiday and Saturday job and contribute if things are very tight. The level of handouts people expect is unbelievable tbh.

Ok thanks for all the comments
For those saying he could get a holiday job he actually can't. I don't want to go into the details but not every 17 year can get a holiday job or even a part time job nevermind a full time one.
I will definitely contact the council he goes to collage under and also our council where he lives.
Please be mindful that people's circumstances are all different and I was just looking for advice!!!!

of course he can

Similar situation here @Angelsaz . DS is at college, we got the vouchers in all the previous holidays. Website for my council says they are doing them. We didn't get one. I wonder if it's because his course finished, although for benefits purposes he's classed as in education until the end of August.

And no, he won't be able to get a job.

No he genuinely can't his circumstances means that he will probably never work but that's not really any of your business!!!

I was looking for advice over vouchers we are entitled to not advice on my son getting a job

As I said previously please be mindful of your comments not everyone has thick skin and if you don't know me and my son personally then you have no idea

@DumbassHamsterSitterPerson thank you, people are just so judgemental it's ridiculous and really quite hurtful

It varies from borough to borough. Our one gives the vouchers but the next door one doesn’t. The school has nothing to do with the vouchers - it’s a local authority initiative and they administer it direct to the parent, if they supply them.

If he can complete a college course he can work

@mytuppennyworth what ableist nonsense! You have no idea of the nature of the situation.

I know a 17 year old has a mother who has written him off from work for life, even though he is able to attend college and ta college course.

@mytuppennyworth so? Doesn't mean the op's child is in the same situation.

It is the OP I am talking about

I'm assuming as others are suggesting the government also feel your son is no longer needing the support at this age. If your son cannot do part-time work despite being able to attend college then presumably you will be eligible for DLA or PIP as other disabled people are.

It's a council funded thing.
Not a government funded thing and government haven't "taken anything away".

Ask your local council why they are no longer issuing vouchers/funds.

It was a measure during Covid initially, because kids weren't able to get their free school meals, they then funded because of the cost of living rises but last year there wasn't a national offer nor this