Help with Back to School Costs

School’s out for summer! However,  many parents are already beginning to worry about buying school uniforms for their children for next year and feeling the burden of the financial costs associated with children returning to school.

A welcome change on the issue of school costs has been introduced in Northern Ireland which may help to ease the pressure of school costs for some working families. 

For many years school uniform grants and free school meals have been available for parents on certain benefits. The criteria for these have now been widened for this coming school year and will now also include some parents who are in receipt of Working Tax Credit.

Parents who are receiving Working Tax Credit are eligible for free school meals and uniform grants if their yearly taxable income is £16,190 or less. If you aren’t sure how much your taxable income is, you can check your tax credit award notice. These new rules will only initially apply to children who were born on or after 2 July 2002 therefore children over eight years of age will not be eligible this school year.

A parent who is in receipt of one of the following benefits is entitled to free school meals and help towards the cost of a school uniform:

• Income Support
• Income-based JSA
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Guarantee Pension Credit
• National Asylum Support Scheme
• Child Tax Credit with a gross income of less than £16,190.
• Working Tax Credit with a gross income of less than £16,190 and the pupil was born on or after 2 July 2002

Children who attend as a boarder at a special school or have a statement of special educational needs will also be eligible for free school meals.

Help towards the cost of a school uniform does not apply to children at nursery school.  

Primary school uniform grants are £35.75 per pupil.  Post primary grants are £78 for pupils aged over 15 and £73 for pupils aged under 15 (this includes an element for the PE kit).

Parents who wish to find out more about the help available with the costs of education can contact their nearest CAB or their local Education and Library Board.