Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Decline in free school meals for children after Universal Credit
‘Situation on ground is critical’ says chief
THOUSANDS of children are getting fewer free school dinners since Universal Credit was rolled out across Northern Ireland.
Families earning £14,000 or less each year after tax can claim free meals because they are living “in poverty”. As deprivation levels have risen, so too have the numbers of kids entitled to the scheme since 2010, but statistics took a downward turn from 102,127 in 2016-17 to 99,142 last year. Chief of Children In Northern Ireland Pauline Leeson CBE believes families are going hungry all year round.
She said: “The situation on the ground is critical.
“Parents are at crisis point and going to bed hungry while they try their best to cater to their children’s emotional and physical needs at the same time as stressing about money.
“The support that is needed for these families cannot be underestimated.”
Children In Northern Ireland think the drop in free school meals could be “related to Universal Credit” and in part because of “the stigma surrounding” them.
A Department for Education spokesman said the rising numbers up to 2016-17 was down to a working tax credit extension to include secondary pupils in September 2014.
He added: “Whilst it may be responsible in part for the decrease reported in 2018/19, it is likely there were existing/ other factors involved.
“The introduction of phase one of Universal Credit completed in Northern Ireland in December 2018. The date to commence the next phase of moving legacy claims to Universal Credit – managed migration – has not been confirmed for Northern Ireland.
“Forecasting suggests Universal Credit criterion for free school meals should have an overall effect of increasing the numbers of pupils eligible by around 2,000 at the end of the roll out of Universal Credit in Northern Ireland.
A Department for Communities spokesman said: “We would be unable to advise if the drop in numbers was a result of Universal Credit.”