…that a technical change is protecting free school meals for hundreds of children in England and Wales?
Previously, eligibility for free school meals was directly linked with the income threshold for Child Tax Credit set by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) – which currently stands at £16,190. However, from the 6th April 2011, the income threshold for Child Tax Credit will become £15,860.
To make sure that HMRC’s change doesn’t reduce the number of children able to claim a free nutritious lunch at school from 6th April, the Government got rid of that link.
It means that eligibility for free school meals for families receiving Child Tax Credit has its own income threshold from 6th April, which stays at £16,190.
We think this is a sensible step – for too many children, a free school lunch may be the only decent meal they eat in a day, so it’s vital that families can continue to claim this support, especially as household budgets come under increasing pressure from rising food and fuel prices.
Any local authority with questions about free school meal eligibility criteria should contact should contact the Department for Education. For questions about Tax Credit changes, please contact HMRC.
