Council continues with direct payments for school meals for families on low incomes
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Aberdeenshire Council has said this week it will continue to provide free school meal payments direct to families on low incomes who meet certain eligibility criteria.
A payment of £52.50 per child will be paid direct to parents nominated bank accounts by Thursday, January 21.
The payment covers the period Monday, January 11 to Sunday, January 31.
The payment of £52.50 per child, is comprised by three weeks free school meals entitlement at £12.50 per week and £5 per week breakfast money.
Eligible families already in receipt of free school meals, do not have to apply for this funding.
A spokesman for the council said: "If you have recently applied for income based free school meals please be assured that we are dealing with all applications as quickly as possible and we will contact you direct when your application has been processed."
Families who are on a low income but not currently in receipt of Free School Meals can check entitlement by completing the following online form: https://aberdeenshirecouncil.formstack.com/forms/free_school_meals_school_clothing_grant_application_form
Children are eligible for free school meals if their parents (or carers) are in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
The qualifying benefits and allowances are-
• Income Support (IS)
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
• Any income related element of Employment Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit (CTC), but not Working Tax Credit (WTC), and have an income of less than £16,105
• Both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit with an income of less than £7,330
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Universal Credit with a monthly take home pay of less than £610
If you are aged 16-18 years-old and receive any of the above qualifying benefits in your own right, you can apply for free school meals.
For more information please visit: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/schools/school-info/assistance/free-school-meals/
