Free school meal vouchers will be available for half term - here's how to see if you're eligible

Children from families that receive income-related free school meals will be eligible for a £15 voucher each for next week's half term school holiday.

Eligible families who received vouchers from Bedford Borough Council’s free school meals scheme previously will automatically receive an email.

But anyone whose circumstances have changed is urged to register and apply for free school meals, so they can receive the support they need.

Bedford Borough Council has already provided £585,770 worth of vouchers over school holidays - directly issued to parents of 6,542 eligible children and young people to help with the cost of shopping for food.

Each voucher is redeemable from a range of local retailers.

Cllr Michael Headley, portfolio holder for finance and welfare, said: “We're again providing supermarket vouchers over the next week’s half-term for children eligible for free school meals, so there will be no break in what's provided for families.

"Although restrictions are being lifted there are many families still having to cope with financial pressures caused by the pandemic.

"No family should have to worry about where their child’s next meal is coming from and, as a council, we are committed to making sure that this doesn’t happen in Bedford Borough.”

Who is eligible for the vouchers?

Children are eligible for the vouchers if their family receives one of these benefits:

> 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

You can find out if you are eligible and register for free school meals online.