Food vouchers for children to continue for October half term

Food vouchers for children to continue for October half term

Children who have free school meals can have food vouchers worth £15 per child per week.

Thanks to additional Household Support Funding from the Government, Norfolk County Council is issuing vouchers for the half term week, and schools and colleges will be able to order vouchers on behalf of all families who are registered eligible.

Schools can order the food vouchers for pupils using an online service. Families can then either redeem their vouchers via an online code or receive a printed voucher by post, collection or delivery if they don’t have internet access.

Cllr Daniel Elmer, Deputy Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Norfolk County Council, said: “We welcome this extension of Government funding to help families still facing hardship as the economy continues to recover following the Covid pandemic.

“We are pleased to be able to use the funding to extend the food voucher scheme over the autumn half term.

“Tackling the legacies of the pandemic and revitalising our economy to support recovery continues to be a top priority for us.”

Families who do not receive free school meals but who are struggling can contact The Norfolk Assistance Scheme (NAS) for support. The scheme can help those on reduced hours or who have been made redundant because of the pandemic.

NAS can support with food, paying bills and money for essentials for families struggling to meet everyday needs. It can also help with household items like white goods or beds. The support is for two weeks to begin with but anyone requiring more long-term help can work with NAS to access further support. To find out more and apply visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/nas

Children are eligible for the vouchers 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

Children in Reception, Year One and Year Two who receive Universal Infant Free School Meals are not eligible as part of the scheme, unless they have registered their eligibility for pupil premium funding.

For more information and to make a new application for free school meals, visit the Norfolk County Council free school meals page.

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