Free School meals on JSA

[bronze]

I've had fantastic advice on here so far about benefits before so thought I would ask again.

DH is claiming JSA contribution based as he was working fulltime since... whenever.
All the info I can fine says that we can't claim free school meals as hes on contribution based but will be able to if hes on income based. He will move onto income based after the set amount of time.
What do other people do? Do they stop their children having school lunches during the contribution based period and then start again when they are free?

This whole set up confuses me as none of it seems logical. Hes paid NI so doesn't get the meals but if he hadn't paid he would?

#Have I got it all completely wrong as this seems odd

Anyway how have other people covered the week inbetween? Packed lunches then change back?

realise dIve put his in the wrong section. damn

You should be able to get free school meals now while on CB JSA.
You need to fill a form in from your local council.Have a look here.

You don't get the means tested benefits when on contributions based JSA as the household income is not looked at - as long as the relevant NI contributions have been made it matters not a jot what income/savings you have.

Assuming you don't work and your DH does not find work before the 6 months is up then he will move to income based JSA (providing savings are under the limit of £6k). You would then qualify for the free school meals.

What you do in the meantime re meals/packed lunches is up to yourselves.

Lovely and fair isn't it!?

Another thing I'll tell the kids they can't have.

Bronze its me again from the old thread.

Just looked at old thread for a reminder of your circumstance- why are you not getting your husbands JSA topped up with the income based?

You can still qualify for free school meals if you get child tax credit, don't get working tax credit and your total income is under about £16k. If all this applies then it doesn't matter if you get JSA or not, let alone what type it is.

because they said cb seeing as hes been worjing and has paid enough nic

GG- I'll have a look at that thanks

Bronze they are wrong and I am right. I know that sounds Cocky but I know I am after 12 years of administering benefits.

Please ring tomorrow and get a JSA review form to apply for the extra income based part. Your partner get £64 contribution based and the income based will top it up to the £102 couples rate.

will do, id they'll deal with me. DH just accept what people say on these things as he really has no idea about the whole thing.

What is CB JSA for then?

sorry my typings shite today

JSA CB is part of what he should be claiming. He also needs to claim the I.B part to pay for you.

They wont deal with you. He needs to ask for a JSA 3 or 4 (ask which one it is to claim for the additional I.B part)

ok thanks
hes doing mortgage paperwork/council tax stuff tomorrow so he might actually do it if I make him at the same time

Good luck for today. Can I just check it is £64 per week hes getting? And when did it start?

he has the details with him but its around that amount and it should have already started. They claim to have paid it in on the 8th but there is nothing in our account

He sounded so stressed what with not understanding a thing that is going on, with me spouting stuff at him and them saying they've done one thing when they haven't. They don't make it easy do they? How on earth do [less ca pable]people do it all the time?

It was probably released on 8th and due to be paid today or monday.

Sounds like he is definately only getting JSA C which means you are recieving no extra for yourself.

When you do review form ask for backdating. They may allow it if advisor in jobcentre knew he had a partner who wasnt working but didnt advise him to claim it.

Hi Im just enquiring as to whether this is still true as this was a year ago. Can you claim free school meals etc if on new style contributions based jsa and on no or little income but getting child tax credits?