Dinner with chips – Photo © Julian Swainson 

 

Children eligible for free school meals, will be offered them during the Easter holidays thanks to taxpayers.

A child from a family that received benefits is eligible for a £15 voucher per week, a total of £30 for the entire break.

The one-off funding for the scheme comes from the Department of Work and Pensions’ winter hardship support. Norfolk County Council has received an additional £952,000 from the fund, much of which will be used to provide free school meal vouchers during Easter.

Schools can order the food vouchers for pupils using an online service and families can receive the codes by email to redeem themselves or as a voucher provided by post, collection or delivery to families without internet access.

Some schools may also be offering food parcels, parents and carers should contact their school office to see what they are providing.

 

Children are eligible for the vouchers if their family receives one of the benefits listed below:

Universal Credit – with an annual earned income of no more than £7,400 after tax
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
Children in years reception to two that receive Universal infant Free School Meals are not eligible as part of the scheme; they have to be eligible for means-tested Free School Meals.

For more information and to apply for free school meals, visit the Norfolk County Council website.