Bedford Borough families who are entitled to income-related free school meals will be given vouchers for the October half-term and Christmas holidays.
Thousands of families will be provided with £15 per week for each eligible child. Bedford Borough Council predicts over 6,650 vouchers will be handed out for each of the school breaks.
Children are eligible for the vouchers, funded through the Household Support Fund if their family receives one of the benefits listed below:
- Universal Credit – with an annual earned income of no more than £7,400 after tax
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
- Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
- Early Years Pupil Premium*
- Two-Year-Old Funding*
If you have not received vouchers before but believe you are now eligible, you can check eligibility and register at the Bedford Borough Council website.
Cllr Michael Headley (Lib Dems, Putnoe), Portfolio Holder for Finance and Welfare said, “Hopefully this support will mean children and young people in the Borough can enjoy their half term without families worrying about where their child’s next meal is coming from.”
Families with eligible children will receive their vouchers through either email or their school or setting’s distribution process.
*If your child attends an Early Years Setting or nursery class and is eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium or Two-Year-Old Funding, you will receive one voucher at Christmas that will cover both the October half-term and Christmas holiday periods.
