The summer holidays are drawing to a close and soon parents and guardians will be back in the shops in a bid to update their child's uniform.
But as the cost of living rises, this task can be made even harder with the cost now said to be totalling more then £300 per child per year, according to Teaching Times.
Thankfully however there are ways to help cover the costs.
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In a bid to help ease any financial pressure when it comes to going back to school, Andrea Knowles, budgeting expert at Vouchers has shared her insight on applying for the School Uniform Grant. This allows low-income families to apply for up to £200 per year, per child.
So what is the grant and how do you know if you are eligible? Here's what you need to know.
What is the School Uniform Grant?
The School Uniform Grant is a government-run scheme which was introduced to help low-income families purchase school uniform for their children. The grant is non-repayable and has a maximum amount of £200.
However, this depends on your local authority and individual circumstances. As well as differing between local authorities, it can differ across the UK too.
Wales has the largest grant of up to £200 per child whilst those living in Scotland and England can get up to £150 per child. Northern Ireland however comes in last with up to just £67.50 per child.
Who is eligible for the School Uniform Grant?
You'll need to find out if your local authority offers the grant first. To do this, you can visit the government here and all you need to do is enter your postcode. If your local authority does offer the grant, you should be able to claim it if you can prove that you’re on a low income or receive certain benefits.
Glasgow City Council have stated on their website that "if your child or children receive free school meals, they should also be entitled to the School Uniform Grant (as long as your local authority offers it). It is worth noting that if your child goes to a private or independently run school, you won’t be eligible for the school uniform grant.
"Families on low incomes may be eligible to receive a School Clothing Grant award of £120 for a Primary aged child or £150 for a Secondary aged child. The award is given annually to assist with the cost of purchasing essential school clothing for families who are on a qualifying benefit."
You may be eligible for a school clothing grant if you have a child that attends a Glasgow school, and you receive any of the following benefits:
- Housing Benefit / Council Tax Reduction (this is not Council Tax single person's discount or student discount)
- Universal Credit (UC), and your monthly take home pay is £660 or less.
- Income Support/Income based Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA) or any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Child Tax Credits only (CTC) with an annual income of less than £17,005
- Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit with an annual income of less than £17,005
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
How to apply for the School Uniform Grant
You will need to get in touch with your local council's school admissions and benefits team. When applying, you’ll need proof of address (such as a utility bill or council tax statement), proof of identity such as a driver's license or passport and proof of guardianship of your child (birth certificate or adoption papers).
You’ll also need a recent bank statement that proves your income or confirms that you are receiving one of the benefits required for eligibility. Alternatively, you can bring a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions.
When can you expect the School Uniform Grant payment if you live in Glasgow?
Councils usually make most payments in July or August before the new school year starts but this can vary between councils. The average time is said to be between 10 and 15 working days once you submit your application.
According to Glasgow City Council, people will get their payments directly into their account from June 17 of this year. They explain: "If we do not have your up to date bank account details, you must complete an online enquiry form as this will delay your payment.
"New applicants for a Clothing Grant will be able to apply from 6 June 2022 when the application form is placed on our website. The processing timescale for new applicants is 3 weeks. It is important all your information is up to date, if not this will delay payments. Payments will start from 17 June 2022
"For pupils moving into S5 and S6, we obtain confirmation of pupils returning prior to the grant being released. Due to this, grants are paid after the school has returned in the new term."
What if I'm not eligible for the School Uniform Grant payment?
If you're not eligible, there are other ways to save on school uniform costs such as buying non-branded school uniforms from your local supermarket. If your child’s school allows generic uniforms with zero branding, it’s worth heading to your local supermarket for their school uniform offerings. Alternatively, if your child’s school sells embroidered school badges that can be ironed on, it may also be cheaper to go down this route.
Many schools run second-hand school sales throughout the summer period, in which you can buy branded school uniforms at a discounted price. Alternatively, you can check local Facebook groups for parents that are selling or giving away their child’s no-longer-needed school uniform.
There are many supermarkets currently selling school wear:
- Aldi - prices starting from £1.50 for one sweatshirt
- Morrisons - prices starting from £3.50 for two sweatshirts
- Tesco - prices starting from £4.00 for two sweatshirts
- Asda - prices starting from £4.00 for two sweatshirts
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