School uniform grants

School Uniform Grant Scheme

To qualify for a Uniform Grant there are certain conditions which must be met:

1. You must be currently in receipt of either:

• Income Support (IS),
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (IBJSA),
• Support under part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, or
• Child Tax Credits, provided that you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income, as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs , that does not exceed £16,040
• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

2.  You must live in Gloucestershire.

3.  Your child must be transferring into Year 7 (from primary to secondary school) in September 2009. If your child attends a special school and his/her date of birth falls between 1 September 1997 and 31 August 1998, you can also apply.

How do I apply for a uniform grant?

To apply, you need to fill out an application form. Forms and leaflets are available from the Access to Education team or from your child's school.

You need to send the application form to the Access to Education Team or to your child's school, together with proof of the benefit you receive shown below.

Who can apply and what proof of benefit do they need to provide

You can apply for free school meals for your child if you receive one of the following benefits. If you are not sure, please contact the Access to Education team. The Government does not allow us to recognise any other benefit other than those mentioned.

Children who receive IS or IBJSA in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals at sixth form.
(NB: Children who attend a further education or tertiary college will need to contact them directly to request assistance.)

Income Support (IS) - a copy of your letter from Jobcentre Plus that clearly states that you receive Income Support

Jobseekers Allowance (JSAIB) - a copy of your letter from Jobcentre Plus that clearly states that you receive Income-based Jobseekers Allowance.

Support for Asylum Seekers (AS) - a copy of your letter from the Home Office that nconfirms you receive support provided under part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Child Tax Credit (CTC) - you must provide a copy of your tax credit award notice (form TC602) for the current financial year. This must show that you do not receive Working Tax Credit and that your annual income (as assessed by her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) does not exceed £16,040.

Guaranteed Pension Credit (GPC)  - a copy of your M1000 Pension Credit Award Notice from the Department for Work and Pensions, which clearly shows that you are in receipt of the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - a copy of your letter confirming you are in receipt of this benefit.

Temporary Qualification for School Uniform Grant

From 1st May 2009 if you have been entitled to Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after your employment ceases, or after you start to work less than 16 hours per week, you will be eligible to claim school uniform grant..

We are unable to directly confirm this 4-week period of eligibility against central benefit records so we must ask you to apply by completing a paper application form and sending it to us with a copy of your Tax Credit Decision Notice, which will be issued immediately by HMRC to a claimant who has notified them that they have stopped working. Applications will not be accepted without this document..

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) - School Uniform Grants