With the Easter holidays fast approaching, many families will struggle with the increasing costs of feeding their kids during their time off school.
Coupled with the soaring rise in living costs, many parents will be looking for ways to save where they can. Now, families may be able to claim vouchers to help feed their kids over the holidays, equivalent to what your children would have been getting at school.
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Free school meal vouchers are often issued by email or text, and allow parents to scan codes at the supermarket.
How much you can claim differs depending on where you live, but varies between £15 to £30.
Eligibility for free school meals varies slightly between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
- Income Support.
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit.
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190).
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.
- Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get).
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Added to this, in England, all children in reception, year one and year two can get free school meals during term time regardless of income.
You can spend the vouchers at supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Asda, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Aldi - but it's always worth checking local stores, too.
For more information and to apply, visit the Gov website here, you'll need to begin by entering your postcode.
Lucy Devine