First 2023/24 cost of living payment date

My DD, also on a low income, isn't eligible for free school meals for my grandson, because she works. He gets them now, because of his age, but they'll be cut off when he goes into Year 2. He doesn't even get free milk.

GagaJo

My DD, also on a low income, isn't eligible for free school meals for my grandson, because she works. He gets them now, because of his age, but they'll be cut off when he goes into Year 2. He doesn't even get free milk.

All children are entitled to free school lunches in reception and years 1 and 2.

There hasn’t been free milk in schools since Margaret Thatcher.

GrannyGravy13

GagaJo

My DD, also on a low income, isn't eligible for free school meals for my grandson, because she works. He gets them now, because of his age, but they'll be cut off when he goes into Year 2. He doesn't even get free milk.

All children are entitled to free school lunches in reception and years 1 and 2.

There hasn’t been free milk in schools since Margaret Thatcher.

His school gives free milk up to the age of 5.

That is very unusual Gagajo there aren’t any round here that do that.

DaisyAnne

growstuff

I receive about £2 a week in council tax reduction in addition to housing benefit, but no Pension Credit. I have an NHS low income certificate (HC1), which means I don't pay for basic NHS dentistry and get a voucher for glasses, if I need new ones. As I'm not eligible for a "gateway benefit", I don't receive extra cost of living support.

I am one of many with a very low income, who is falling through holes in the system.

You receive no Pension Credit because you would have to be poorer to do so. I can't remember whether it was you, but we had a person who, when we discussed this before, with much the same complaints, had an income of almost twice what is eligible for a Pension Credit?

What became apparent after an 'all round the houses' trip on that one was that it wasn't the Pension Credit that was the problem; it was the percentage of income the person was paying for rent. With an income roughly twice as much as the eligible amount for PC, what they should have been complaining about were our housing problems.

Just seen this, so sorry I didn't respond earlier.

Yes, I know my income from pensions is too high for Pension Credit. One of the aims when the new state pension was introduced was to reduce the number of people eligible for PC, which tops up the income of people without savings to the maximum new pension amount.

I agree with you that housing is the problem. I had a mortgage for decades, but lost my house through no fault of my own. If I still had a house with the mortgage paid off, there wouldn't be a problem. I'd hardly be rich, but I'd manage.

BTW my income is nowhere near twice the amount to be eligible for PC, so it wasn't me.

PS. For people in the same situation, don't forget to check if you are eligible for the NHS low income scheme, which means that you get free dental care (if you can find an NHS dentist) and heavily subsidised glasses, if you need them - plus free prescriptions, if you're still under pension age.

It’s a big step moving from KS1 to KS2. The free school meals ought to go on into KS2. It made a huge difference to 1 DD.
Having said that, it would help if more parents who are entitled to FSM would apply for them even in Year R, 1, and 2 because it makes a difference to the school budget. (Yes I know it’s different in Scotland.)
Earning £7,400 seems really low for the cut off point but I don’t know if that excludes any benefits.

GrannyGravy13

That is very unusual Gagajo there aren’t any round here that do that.

He's been in 2 schools in this area. They've both done it.

Hurrah, I got my first £301 yesterday and I ain't complaining. I'm on Guaranteed Pension Credit, so like a lot of others here £300 is the equivalent of £1000's to me.

DaisyAnne hopefully it's okay to ask you a question about P.C. and savings as I've got very confused(?). I'm a single pensioner on G.P.C. I thought my savings without being affected could be up to £10,000, then I was recently told it's up to c£12,000, and when I called a help line for advice (not DWP) I was told it could be up to £16,000 (as I was single). At the moment I don't have anywhere near those amounts in savings but would feel safer if I had a guide line, and the answer seems to vary so much...

Mollygo

It’s a big step moving from KS1 to KS2. The free school meals ought to go on into KS2. It made a huge difference to 1 DD.
Having said that, it would help if more parents who are entitled to FSM would apply for them even in Year R, 1, and 2 because it makes a difference to the school budget. (Yes I know it’s different in Scotland.)
Earning £7,400 seems really low for the cut off point but I don’t know if that excludes any benefits.

It's almost impossible for anybody who works to be eligible for FSM. The formula for working it out is quite complicated. Generally, the only people eligible for FSM after the age cut off are the unemployed, who then receive help with housing costs and some other specified help eg. for prescriptions.

GrannyGravy13

That is very unusual Gagajo there aren’t any round here that do that.

Children under 5 are eligible for free school milk, if the provider is registered with the government scheme.

Some schools use their own funding to provide milk and/or a piece of fruit for younger children. In some cases, they use their pupil premium funding.

Yes, the class get fruit too. It's ironic. He loves his school milk but can't bear the stuff at home.

boheminan

Hurrah, I got my first £301 yesterday and I ain't complaining. I'm on Guaranteed Pension Credit, so like a lot of others here £300 is the equivalent of £1000's to me.

DaisyAnne hopefully it's okay to ask you a question about P.C. and savings as I've got very confused(?). I'm a single pensioner on G.P.C. I thought my savings without being affected could be up to £10,000, then I was recently told it's up to c£12,000, and when I called a help line for advice (not DWP) I was told it could be up to £16,000 (as I was single). At the moment I don't have anywhere near those amounts in savings but would feel safer if I had a guide line, and the answer seems to vary so much...

I am no expert, but I think I know why you received confusing amounts.
In order to be able to claim Pension Credit, the money you have (both savings and current account), needs to be under £10,000.
so
However, you can still claim PC with up to £16,000- BUT every £500 counts as £1 that you actually have, and is deducted from the amount of PC you receive. This is the reason why you get two contradictory amounts

Just to remind people that it is not just savings that is taken into account - your normal everyday standard account from which you pay such things as Direct Debits, etc. etc. also needs to keep you under that ten thousand pounds.

Thank goodness for some positive posts, we have had a lot of help, for which I appreciated, these pessimistic moaners could always give it back.

I think the government has tried to help individuals and businesses in the current global crisis and it’s good to see that some do give them credit for that.

Does anyone know if the second payment of this help is being divided into two? This week I have received £150 from the DWP without any idea as to the reason for this. Wonder if it could be half of the second £300 payment.

Think I can answer my own query,. THis £150 us a CoL allowance for people on Disability allowances. Very welcome.