Has the figure for 2008/9 come out yet?

I have seen a figure of £15,575 which I have taken to be the threshold for free school meals rather than NHS charges. Is this right?

The income threshold for NHS charges was last uprated in April 05 (to £15,050) and it hasn't gone up since - i've not seen any thing to suggest it will go up this year.


For free school meals, the Education (Free School Lunches) (Prescribed Tax Credits) (England) Order 2003

( http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20030383.htm )

borrows the CTC 1st income threshold the so you're right - that will be £ 15,575 unless they make an amendment.

Thanks Jon. 3 years seems to be a bit long to go without some kind of uprating?

The 2008 first threshold for CTC is now £15,575 so that may be what you saw.

I've not seen anything about the NHS threshold but they were the same last year and it strikes me that it would be logical for the two to be the same, (and as we all know the tax credit system is always completely logical).

just looked into it and realised I was mistaken, the earnings limit for free scholl meals was the same as the C.T.C Threshold, not the N.H.S. limit, it would be good if they could be the same now though.

"free scholl meals"? They might be free but they don't sound very appetising. I think Jamie Oliver should be told.

As eaten by the children of sandal-wearing Guardian readers, perhaps.

They only eat them in channel ports. Its the dover sole.

on a serious note, and quite off point, could you please tell me if anyone is doing any social policy work on the issue of recoverability of TC payment by the HMR&C. It seems to me that all such appeals should be dealt with by the ITS. It reminds of the pre 2001 days when local authorities sat seeking to either reclaim or prevent payment of their own monies. Th aguement of bias is at least arguable....

I would very much like to help fight for such a change.

tonybc