I’m a disabled dad and I’ve got less than £1 a DAY to spend on my daughter’s food – I’m having to sell all my stuff
A DISABLED dad claims to have less than £1 a day to spend on food for his daughter.
Peter Ainslie says he is selling off his possessions to claw back some cash to feed 15-year-old Chloe after free school holiday meal vouchers for low-income families were cut.
The teenager, from Southampton, qualifies for free school dinners worth £3 a day during term time, and usually gets £90 for the six-week summer break.
But this year, her allowance was slashed to £30, leaving her with less than a quid per day.
Peter, who is in a wheelchair and suffers from weakened bones, told the Southampton Daily Echo: “It is more than a slap in the face and it has made me really angry.”
The 47-year-old, who is cared for by his partner Sue, 62, is now trying to flog his belongings to put meals on the table.
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He has started selling Blu-ray DVDs, which he has collected for 17 years, but fears he will have to default on his credit card to pay his latest £210 gas bill.
Peter, a former mortgage broker and banker who receives £600 a month in benefits for his family, said: “There’s only going to be so much stuff I can sell before I run out of things.
“There’s no tap to turn on and it’s all about to go up again.”
The rising cost of living has seen record numbers of families claiming free school meals.
But funding during school holidays has been reduced, meaning thousands not deemed in “urgent need” are struggling.
Councillor Dr Darren Paffey, Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, said: “We are still distributing as much as we can to families, but with more people to support and no more money to do this with, the council is being hamstrung in our efforts to support families who are facing tough times.
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“I encourage all children who receive free school meals to take part in the Holiday Activities and Food programme.”
The scheme provides support to children from reception to year 11 who receive free meals during holiday periods.
Free school holiday meal vouchers
SOME families are eligible for vouchers to help with the cost of food during the summer holidays.
These are equivalent to what children receive at school and can be spent at most major supermarkets.
Usually, parents can claim up to £90 per child during the summer break, but this can change depending on the area you live in.
Mums and dads who claim benefits are able to apply. The benefits included are:
- Income support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act in 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on paid for 4 weeks until you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
If your child receives free school meals during term time then they should be entitled to vouchers during the holidays, but it is worth confirming with your local council.