Title: Free school
meals changes 'could discourage work'
Subject: Planned changes to the free
school meals (FSM) system could put thousands of low-income families in England
off working, a charity says.
Date: 19 April
2012 Last
updated at 11:23 GMT
Summary
A Universal Credit in 2013 will allow kids from low income families to
get free school meals. The Children’s Society says that thousands of families
may choose to work less to qualify as such. Children’s Minister Sarah Teather
said that there should be changes to how free school meals are allocated. This
would also change which schools get extra funds to provide said free school
meals. Parents would be able to work less and lower their income to reach a
yearly income of 7500 pounds or less to give their kids the chance to live of
free school meals.
Opinion
I personally don’t see how people would even think of lessening their
work just because their children are being fed without them having to pay for
it. It’s not as if they don’t need food for themselves or clothes or money for
the rent. So how would not having to pay for those two sandwiches or one warm
meal a day influence their work hours? I think people would still want their
“pocket-money” and a free meal for their kids probably won’t change that. But then
again, people have done weirder things.
No funny pictures here, sorry for that.
Households could save a lot in year if they have simpler, smaller evening meals and as a bonus have to work less. There will be families who will calculate their hours, income and expenses on food just so that they will benefit from this, but there will also be other households who could really just use the help.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI agree with you: I don’t think people would actually work less to get a free meal. To me this feels like a typical right wing thing to say. They always come up with negative stuff to say about helping those in need. Obviously people with such low incomes could use free meals for their kids. And even if there are a couple of idiots who want to qualify even though they don’t: Does that matter?
BeantwoordenVerwijderen