School uniforms can become a costly expense, but struggling parents may be able to claim up to £200 to help cover this expense. The extra money and support is typically available to households on a low income. The amount on offer varies a lot depending on where you live.
This is a little known benefit. This may not apply to you but we would encourage you to share this information with friends and family who may struggle with the expense of sending kids back to school at this time of the year.
It may surprise you but the average cost of a school uniform is around £105 for a secondary school-age student.
Who is eligible for financial help with school uniforms
The grants are typically available for people on benefits such as Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s allowance, and child tax credits. Children who qualify for free school meals will usually also qualify for uniform help – as long as it’s offered by your council. In some cases, financial help will be dependent on your children’s age or what type of school they are attending.
While local authorities can set their own eligibility criteria, in general, the minimum requirement to get the grant is to qualify for (but not necessarily get) free school meals:
If you qualify for free school meals – you may potentially also get help with school uniform costs – you’d need to be getting at least one of the following means-tested benefits:
· Income support
· Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
· Income-related employment and support allowance
· Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
· The guaranteed element of pension credit
· Child tax credit
· Working tax credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit
· Universal credit
For further information please click on the link below and enter your postcode to get started:
https://www.gov.uk/help-school-clothing-costs
It may be the case that for whatever reason you are not suitable to claim – but it is always worthwhile just to check.
