GOVERNMENT TAX INCREASES…
REDUCED FAMILY INCOME…
…ARE YOU CLAIMING WHAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO?
REGISTERING FOR ‘FREE SCHOOL MEALS’ CAN SAVE YOU £399 PER YEAR, PER CHILD.
Dear Parents
Everyone knows of the economic crisis that is affecting this country, and you will all be well aware of the cut-backs the Government need to make. Schools will be affected by this and we will have to manage our finances very carefully over the coming years to do our best for the children.
There is a way, however, that we can get more funding from the government; the main measure they are using to calculate how much ‘extra’ cash each school gets is based on how many of the children are registered for ‘Free School Meals’.
Below is the information used to determine whether your family income and circumstances mean you are able to register for a free meal each day for your children; at £2.10 per day, this can save a family with 2 children at school nearly £800.
Even if your child does not take up their free school meal every day, and has a packed lunch, it will still mean the school gets the additional funding.
It has become vitally important that where children are entitled to receive this, their formal registration is made as soon as possible, please.
If any parent would like additional information related to registering Free School Meal entitlement please do not hesitate to contact Free School Meals CSD Finance on Tel 01502 405177 or the School Office, who will handle this confidentially and sensitively.
We hope this information is beneficial, and I thank you for your continued support for our school.
Yours sincerely
Revd Graham Owen
Chair of Governors
SCC Guideline - Free School Meals
Your child will be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following benefits:
• Income Support
• Income based Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• Guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit as long as you do not get a Working Tax Credit and your taxable income is less than £16,190
• If you are supported under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
If you are a young person aged 16 to 19 and claim any of the above benefits in your own right and you are still in full-time education, you are also entitled to free school meals
Note: From 1 May 2009 where a parent is entitled to Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after their employment ceases, or after they start to work less than 16 hours per week, their children are entitled to free school lunches.
To claim free school meals you need to get a form from the school office, or alternatively you may contact Free School Meals CSD Finance on Tel 01502 405177 or go to http://www.suffolk.gov.uk and follow the links to Free School Meals for further information and to download a form.
