HELP & SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

Did you know that Universal Credit is currently a qualifying benefit for Free School Meals?

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If you receive Universal Credit then your children are entitled to a free meal in school. Claiming free school meals could save you almost £400 per child per year, and could enable the school to gain over £2,000 per year extra funding for every child as well. So even if your child doesn’t take the free meal, or your child gets a free meal because they are currently in reception or Key stage 1, you should apply now if you haven’t already. 

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From 1 April 2018, the government are introducing a Universal Credit earning threshold of £7,400 per year for free school meal eligibility which means that some families who are eligible now would not be if they apply after 1 April. And all children assessed as eligible for Free School Meals by 1 April 2018 will continue to be eligible until at least 2022 without the need for further eligibility checks while Universal Credit is rolled out across the country.

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To make sure that you don’t miss out please apply now. 

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If you receive Universal Credit and are not already claiming free school meals for your children then please visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals for more information and to apply.