Changes to Universal Credit leave critics claiming a million impoverished children will not receive free school dinners
Previously any family claiming universal credit would be entitled to free school meals (FSM) however, under new proposals families on universal credit that earn over the threshold of £7,400 will lose FSM.
As universal credit replaces six other current benefits systems many families may find themselves cut off from FSM.
Research by the charity, The Children’s Society reveals that one million children in poverty in England will miss out on free school meals under new proposals.
Spokesperson for The Children’s Society, Faith Dawes said: “The Children’s Society believes the new proposals will create a ‘cliff-edge’ where many families would be better off taking a pay cut.”
Figures from the society’s research show that when a family with one child passes the £7,400 threshold they would need to earn £1,124 a year more to make up for loss of money spent on school meals.
This makes providing for your kids that bit harder for many daddies.
What can you do if you lose free school meals?
As universal credit slowly gets implemented across the UK many dads will be nervous about the changes is brings
If you are going to lose FSM to universal credit because your family earns over £7,400 the first thing to do is see whether you can apply to any of the old benefits systems.
This will be based on where you live as universal credit is being rolled out in stages. Areas that have already seen universal credit brought in will no longer be able to apply for any of the previous six benefits.
Writing in iNews, Children’s Society CEO, Matthew Read says, “Before universal credit began to rollout children whose parents were out of work, or working only a small number of hours, were normally entitled to free school meals. As soon as parents started working 16 hours or more a week (or 24 for couples), they lost the free school meals, but the family got a big income boost from receiving working tax credit instead.”
So if you can still apply for income support, income based jobseeker’s allowance, employment and support allowance, working tax credit or child tax credit in your local area you may still be entitled to FSM.
It is worth remembering that universal credit is set to replace all of these by 2022 though, so it will only be a short term solution.
For all fathers out there with children who will be attending either reception, year one or year two in England or Scotland it is worth remembering that your child will receive FSM regardless of earnings.
This gives you precious time to prepare your finances to support your child by year three of school.
If worst comes to worse and you cannot receive FSM anymore then it is worth considering sending your child to school with packed lunches.
On average school dinners will set a family back by £8-11 a week. If you have the time to spare you can definitely shop for cheaper alternatives to fill your children’s lunchbox.
Here at Big Daddy Mag we hope that the universal credit changes do not impact either you or your family’s finances negatively and hope that at the end of the day you can make ends meet.
