Up to now, claimants of Universal Credit with children would be entitled to free school meals. Even recipients who
only get a few pounds of Universal Credit per month....
New regulations have been issued (applying from 1/4/2018) that decide at what point Universal Credit claimants will
be entitled to free school meals and milk for their children.
The earnings thresholds below which there is entitlement to free school meals and milk are -
● Lower than £616.67 where there is earned income in a relevant period made up of one universal credit
assessment period that immediately precedes the date of the request for a free school meal; or
● Lower than twice that amount (£1,233.34) where the relevant period is two assessment periods before the date of
request (in cases where the single period threshold is exceeded in the first assessment period); or
● Lower than three times that amount (£1,850) where the relevant period is three assessment periods (in cases
where the single and double period threshold is exceeded in the first two assessment periods preceding
the request for free school meals).
There is a fear that these new 'cliff edges' will provide a deterrent to those seeking work.
The Childrens' Society suggest this may mean over £1 million children missing out compared to if all UC claimants
continued to receive the entitlement.
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