SCHOOL holidays can be a stressful time for parents worried about feeding their children – but there’s help on offer.
Through the Household Support Fund (HSF), some councils are offering families food vouchers or direct payments to tie them over during the Easter school break.
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The HSF was first launched by the government in late 2021, and the current tranche closes on March 31.
The latest £842million portion will run from April 1 to March 31, 2024.
Each council decides how they want to allocate their share of the fund, and who to.
But some authorities have decided to offer certain households on free school meals vouchers or cash payments to cover the two-week break.
Here are just a few and how to find out what’s on offer where you are.
Shropshire Council
Shropshire Council has been allotted £4.1million by the government and is offering help to pensioners, care leavers and disabilities.
Families who receive free school meals will get vouchers they can redeem at the supermarket over the Easter break too.
The vouchers are worth £15 per week, but the council didn’t say where you can use the vouchers.
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However, the last time it gave out the vouchers, they were redeemable at Aldi, Asda, Iceland, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose.
If you are eligible for the vouchers, your child’s school or educational setting will issue them to you.
East Devon District Council
The latest tranche of East Devon District Council’s HSF will cover the Easter half term.
Families who receive free school meals will receive food vouchers that can be exchanged at supermarkets.
To find out how to get the vouchers, you should contact the council.
Greenwich Council
All children currently claiming free school meals in Greenwich will qualify for a £30 payment over the Easter holidays.
Schools decide who is eligible for the payments. If you are eligible, you will receive a text message or email from Greenwich Council telling you how the payment will be made.
Three payments have already been made – in October 2022, December 2022 and February this year.
What about if I don’t live in Devon, Greenwich or Shropshire?
Some councils are still in the process of allotting the latest tranche of the Household Support Fund, which closes on March 31.
They might have already told you to expect vouchers this Easter break through that portion of the fund.
But they might be allocating the vouchers through the next tranche of funding, which is available from April 1.
If they have already in the past, they might do so again.
You should get in touch with them and see what’s on offer.
If you don’t know what council area you fall under, you can find it by using the government’s council locator tool.
Who is eligible for free school meals?
The criteria for free school meals varies depending on where you live and your financial situation.
For example, in England, you are entitled to free school meals if your child is between Reception or Year 2 regardless of your income.
From Year 3 onwards you have to be receiving certain benefits to be in line for the meals.
The rules are different in Wales and Scotland.
Children in England whose parents claim certain benefits are eligible to receive free school meals:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit – if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
Where can I spend free school meal vouchers?
You should be able to spend any vouchers at the main supermarkets, including:
- Tesco
- Sainsbury’s
- Morrisons
- Asda
- Waitrose
- Marks & Spencer
- Aldi
But remember, each council will have its own qualifying supermarkets.
You’ll have to check with them directly to see if your favourite isn’t on the list.
What other help can I get?
Beyond free school meals, you might be able to get free food this half term through your local food bank.
They offer you free food if you are struggling financially.
Meanwhile, you can get help through Healthy Start vouchers.
But there’s eligibility criteria involved in getting them.
You can apply for the scheme on email or phone, but you must be at least 10 weeks pregnant, or have at least one child under four years old.
You also have to be receiving certain benefits, such as Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and Pension Credit.
