How to claim up to claim £150 towards school uniform and PE kit with the School Uniform Grant
The summer holidays may only just have started, but already we’re seeing ‘back to school’ promotions in the shops. Find out how you can claim up to claim £150 towards school uniform and PE kit.
Getting your kids ready to return to (or start) school can be expensive – especially if they’ve had a growth spurt over the summer and you need to replace their entire school uniform.
But there is good news. As Ocean Finance explain here, the government is offering families up to £150 towards the cost of school uniform and PE kit.
What is the School Uniform Grant?
The School Uniform Grant is a government scheme that has been introduced to help families in England with the cost of school uniform and PE kits. (There are also schemes in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – you can find out more about these here.)
The maximum amount of money available is £150, but the amount you are eligible for varies depending on your local authority and your individual circumstances.
Who is entitled to the School Uniform Grant?
The first step in claiming the grant is to find out if your local authority offers it. You can visit the government’s website to check if you are eligible, and if your local council can help with costs.
Some councils, including Northumberland, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall and Stockton, have already withdrawn from the scheme. Other councils have decided to offer smaller grants, and some will only offer the grant to children with special educational needs.
If your local authority does offer the grant, you should be able to claim it if you can prove you’re on a low income. A ‘low income’ is considered to be less than £16,190 a year. Alternatively, you’ll need to prove that you get one of these benefits:
- Income support
- Job seeker’s allowance (income-based)
- Child tax credit – provided you’re not entitled to working tax credit
- Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
- State pension – this benefit must be your sole source of income
- Support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Universal Credit.
If your child goes to a private or independently run school, you won’t be eligible for the school uniform grant.
How can I apply for the School Uniform Grant?
To apply for the School Uniform Grant, you’ll need to get in touch with your local council’s school admissions and benefits team.
The highest School Uniform Grant on offer is £150 per child. However, the amount you can apply for will depend on your local council’s budget and their commitment to the scheme. While some areas are not able to offer the full grant, they will still provide a contribution towards the cost of school uniform and PE kit.
When applying for the grant, you will need to supply proof that you are legally responsible for the child you’re applying for. You’ll also need a recent copy of your bank statement to show proof of income or confirmation that you’re getting one of the benefits required.
Never mind returning to school… do you need help surviving the school holidays? Read 11 tips here!
Photo by Gabriel Tovar
