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11th February 2021: Voucher & Free School Meal details for parents

11th February 2021

Dear parents,

 

As we head towards the half-term break, can I wish you and your family a good week and hopefully a pleasant change of routine. Please see below for details of the Free School Meal vouchers scheme and information about other financial support.

 

Vouchers in half-term (for families who currently receive Free School Meal vouchers from St Anne’s)

Vouchers will be issued for half-term on Friday 12th February ready for the start of the half-term. The value of the vouchers is £10 for each eligible child. This amount is decided by the Local Authority.

This scheme is less flexible than the usual vouchers. To make sure that you don’t miss out, you must contact us at info@st-annes.uk.com by Tuesday 16th February if there is a problem. After this date, it may not be possible to resend or cancel vouchers. It is important that you redeem these vouchers quickly as unredeemed vouchers may be cancelled and it will not be possible to re-issue them.

 

Vouchers after half-term (for families who currently receive Free School Meal vouchers from St Anne’s)

Vouchers for £15 per week for each eligible child will start again after half-term and will be sent on Wednesday 24th February (due to the date set by the ordering system). Funding for the vouchers has been agreed by the government for the week commencing 22nd February and the week commencing the 1st March (the two weeks after half-term.)  Once you have redeemed a voucher and have chosen your supermarket and have entered your email address for the voucher to be sent to you, we cannot reissue these vouchers unfortunately as the system classes them as spent.

 

Applying for Free School Meals (if your circumstances have changed)

If you think you might be eligible, you can use the link to apply for a check. Please be aware that we cannot go back and issue vouchers for previous weeks.

 

How to apply for Free School Meals

You can check online and the school will be told if the application is successful. This will then allow your child to get a meal at school each day (when they are in school) and for you to receive a supermarket voucher whilst schools are closed, it also generates the pupil premium which gives schools additional funding.

 

https://www.southampton.gov.uk/schools-learning/in-school/school-meals/free-school-meals.aspx

 

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

  • 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 four 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)

Helpful Information from the Council

 

Advice on heating your home: https://environmentcentre.com/support-and-guidance/

 

Help with Debt: Please see link for local and national debt advice services. http://www.southampton.gov.uk/benefits-welfare/money-advice/useful-contacts.aspx

 

Help with Water Bills:

Essentials tariff  You may qualify for a minimum 20% discount if your household income is less than £16,105 per year (not including Personal Independence Allowance, Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance). Plus, if someone at your address receives Pension Credit, you’ll automatically be accepted onto the Essentials tariff and receive a 20% discount on your water bill. 

 

Water Sure tariff If you are on a water meter and use a lot of water due to a medical condition, or because there are three or more children under 19 living at home, you could benefit from a cap on your metered water bill.  You’ll need to be claiming benefits to be eligible for the WaterSure tariff.

 

NewStart  If you owe money to Southern Water for an outstanding debt and you haven’t been able to make a payment for a while you may be eligible to receive help to pay off the bill. Check online for more details.

 

Water Direct  Jobcentre Plus may be able to pay Southern Water directly from your benefits on your behalf.

To find out more about any of these schemes simply email or call Southern Water on 0800 027 0800.

 

 

Warm wishes,

Emma Wright

Inclusion Lead

Telephone: 023 80328200 Email: info@st-annes.uk.com