Thousands of families due food vouchers in February half term worth £75
THOUSANDS of families are in line for food vouchers worth up to £75 over the February half term.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund, a £421million pot of cash that’s been shared between councils in England.
These councils then decide how they want to distribute their share, and who to.
Some are offering hard-up households cash payments into bank accounts while others are distributing vouchers to cover energy bills.
But some are using the extra funding to issue food vouchers or food to low-income families or those on benefits to cover the February half term.
If your local authority isn’t listed below, it’s worth getting in touch with yours if your child is on benefit-related free school meals or you’re struggling financially, as you could be in line for help.
Waltham Forest Council
Waltham Forest Council, London, is distributing supermarket vouchers to families with children eligible for benefits-related free school meals.
The vouchers, provided by payment service provider Edenred, are being handed out via your child’s school.
You can find out more about the February half term vouchers via www.walthamforest.gov.uk.
Stockport Council
Stockport Council, Greater Manchester, has extended the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme to cover the February half term.
HAF is funded by the Department for Education and sees community groups and businesses provide food and activities for children receiving free school meals.
It usually only covers the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays.
You are eligible for help through the HAF programme in Stockport if you are on income-related free school meals.
To find out more about the help on offer in February and to apply, visit www.stockport.gov.uk.
You can also email HAF@stockport.gov.uk with any questions.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Families with children on free school meals in the East Riding of Yorkshire Council area are eligible for extra vouchers over the school holidays.
The £15 vouchers will be issued by your child’s school, after vouchers were issued for the Christmas half term.
East Riding of Yorkshire said it was spending £651,000 on free school meal vouchers between Christmas and Easter this year.
You can find out more about the help via www.eastriding.gov.uk.
Derby City Council
Derby City Council is issuing supermarket food vouchers to thousands of households with children on benefit-related free school meals.
The local authority said over 48,000 meals will be given to families in need across the October 2024, December 2024 and February 2025 half term breaks.
Last February, the food vouchers were distributed via your child’s school although it’s not clear if this is the case this year.
Visit www.derby.gov.uk for more details and to get in touch with the council to find out how to get hold of the vouchers.
Bath and North East Somerset Council.
The council is distributing free school meal vouchers to families who received them over the Christmas holidays or in previous half terms.
If you are eligible you should receive them automatically so just have to sit tight and wait.
More details about the fund can be found via www.bathnes.gov.uk.
Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council is handing out supermarket vouchers worth £15 to families with children on benefit-related free school meals.
Families will receive £15 per eligible child so if you have three children qualifying for free school meals you will receive £75.
The vouchers will be issued by your child’s school.
You can find out more by visiting www.surreycc.gov.uk.
Havering Council
London’s Havering Council is distributing vouchers to families with children on benefit-related free school meals.
The vouchers are worth £15 per child per week.
If you have already applied for the vouchers, for example over the Christmas break, you don’t need to reapply.
If you haven’t yet applied, you can via www.havering.gov.uk, but the deadline to get vouchers for February half term is February 5.
What about if I don’t live in these areas?
You might not be able to get school vouchers if you live outside these areas, but you may be eligible for other help.
Each council across England has been allocated a share from the £421million HSF pot.
But each local authority gets to decide its own eligibility criteria.
That means what you are entitled to will vary depending on where you live.
Not all councils have decided what they will do with their share of the £421million yet either.
The best thing to do is contact your local authority to see if any help is currently on offer.
What are free school meals?
The UK government funds free school meals for children in England who are attending a primary or secondary state school, free school, or academy.
Free school meals are provided for all children in reception, year 1 and year 2.
After year 2, some pupils carry on receiving free school meals if they are on certain benefits, asylum support or have a limited income.
Some of the benefits that can qualify you for free school meals include income support, ESA and JSA.
In England and Wales, you also get benefits-related free school meals if you are on the guaranteed element of Pension Credit or Working Tax Credits.
If you are on Universal Credit, there are income requirements.
If you live in England or Wales, you must have an income of £7,400 a year or less, not including benefits, to qualify for free school meals.
Those on child tax credits must earn under £16,190 a year.
Household Support Fund explained
Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund.
If you’re battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline.
The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living.
Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households.
Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments.
In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families.
Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying.
Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income.
The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer.
And don’t delay, the scheme has been extended until April 2025 but your council may dish out their share of the Household Support Fund before this date.
Once the cash is gone, you may find they cannot provide any extra help so it’s crucial you apply as soon as possible.