Thanks to the Department of Work and Pensions’ winter hardship support fund, children from families that receive income-related free school meals are again eligible for a £15 voucher per week each, a total of £30 for the Easter break.
Bedford Borough Council has received an additional £167,672 one-off funding from central government, much of which will be used to provide free school meal vouchers for the Borough’s children during Easter.
The free school meals food vouchers scheme is part of the package of support launched by Bedford Borough Council and voluntary sector partners earlier in the school year for families and households.
£337,290 worth of vouchers (over Christmas and February half term) have been directly issued to parents of 6,609 eligible children and young people to help with the cost of shopping for food. Each voucher is redeemable from a range of local retailers.
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
The Council and Bedford Borough schools are encouraging more families to register and apply for free school meals, so that they begin to receive the support they need.
To find out if you are eligible and to register for free school meals visit www.bedford.gov.uk/schools-education-and-childcare/education-welfare-service/free-school-meals/