Free school meals: Will government provide free meals while schools are closed?
FREE SCHOOL MEALS have protected the most vulnerable children in the UK since 1906- will the Government still provide free meals while schools are closed due to coronavirus?
Coronavirus: Johnson announces UK school closures
Teachers and parents across the nation are fearful that the Government will stop providing free meals for underprivileged children if schools close amid the continued spread of coronavirus. For many children, their free school meal is the only nutritious and hearty meal they will eat in a day- it is essential to their health. What will happen if schools close?
What are free school meals?
A free school meal is a statutory benefit available to school children from families who receive other qualifying benefits.
Find out if your child is eligible to receive free school meals here
Who is eligible for free school meals?
If you receive any of the following, your child may be able to get 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)
Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is:
Younger than the compulsory age for starting school
AND in full-time education
Are schools closing?
The Prime Minister announced schools in the UK would close from Friday, March 20.
Mr Johnson said the coronavirus is an invisible enemy and it is not clear who is transmitting it.
Asked about the duration of school closures, the Prime Minister said he wants to keep it to an "absolute minimum".
Will the government provide free meals while schools are closed?
When asked about whether school closures will impact free school meals, Mr Johnson said: "Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, has a plan to make sure that parents with kids who are eligible for free school meals get the compensation or the treatment they need one way or the other, we certainly anticipated that."
Mr Williamson confirmed: "We will give schools the flexibility to provide meals or vouchers to children who are eligible for free school meals.
"Some schools are already doing this and we will make sure those costs are reimbursed.
"As soon as possible, we will put in place a national voucher system for every child who is eligible for free school meals."