Schools and learning

Am I eligible for any financial help towards school expenses?

To be eligible for financial help available, you need to be receiving one of the following benefits:

• Income Support or Income based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income related Employment Support Allowance. *
• Child Tax Credit - with a taxable income of no more than £16,040 and not in receipt of Working Tax Credit *
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)*
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999*
• Child Tax Credit – payable at a rate higher than the family element ie: £547.50 – this is £1,095.00 if you also have a child under one year old
• Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Benefit (not including second adult rebate)
• Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after their employment finishes or after they start to work less than 16 hours per week

* Some help is only available if you receive these specific benefits.

The Education Benefits Matrix provided will give you an indication of what help may be available.

You must contact us (use Education Benefits number) as soon as you stop getting any of the above benefits. If you don't we may go to court to get the money back. If your child has been receiving free school meals without being eligible, you will be asked to repay the money you owe us.

What proof of benefit do I need?

We need to see your proof of benefit. (if you are applying for free school meals or free school meals and another education benefit at the same time, then in most cases you will not need to provide proof of benefit). If you are applying for any other education benefit on it's own then we will need to see proof of benefit.

For Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance,Income related Employment Support Allowance or Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), please supply either:

• a copy of a recent Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Jobcentre letter granting the benefit. This must be dated within 28 days of the application.
  
  OR
• Your school's secretary can photocopy the recent letter (as above), sign and stamp as seen and return to the Customer Service Centre via the schools' post system

For Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, please supply a copy of your most recent HM Revenue and Customs Tax Credit award notice (TC602). The school secretary may photocopy the TC602, sign and stamp as seen (with the school's details) and return to the Customer Service Centre via the schools' post system.

For Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (not including second adult rebate), please supply a copy of a letter granting you the benefit. This must be dated within 28 days of application.

If you haven't got any of these forms of proof, you should ask the appropriate official office

• For Income Support/Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income related Employment & Support Allowance ask for proof of benefit from the DWP, contact Jobcentre Plus at Watford Benefit Delivery Centre, Watford, WD99 1AA, phone 0845 608 8583 (fax 01923 208321)
• or For Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit, ask for proof of benefit from HM Revenue and Customs Phone 0845 300 3900
• For Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit ask for proof of benefit from your District / Borough Council Office and for Pension Credit, ask for proof of benefit from the pension service on 0800 991234

Without proof that you are entitled to one of these benefits, we will not be able to process your application. The application must be made in the same name as the person who receives the benefit.

How to apply for these grants

1. Complete the How Can We Help application form online now
   
   OR
   
   Contact us on 0300 123 4048 and an advisor will complete the online form on your behalf
   
2. (if applicable)You should then send us your proof of benefit (we will tell you how upon application)
3. We will assess your eligibility and process your application

If you have difficulty completing the form, your child's school secretary may be able to help, or you can contact us on 0300 123 4048 or at howcanwehelp@hertscc.gov.uk