Tackling Poverty Update - 3 March 2025

With the end of the financial year almost upon us, a number of changes to qualifying income levels and payment rates for welfare benefits are being announced. As part of these updates we aim to keep you informed as timely as possible, but as always, the advice to our residents is to use the Fife Benefit Checker to check and claim for any missing entitlements as this will be updated to reflect the changes on the appropriate dates.

Increase your income | Cost of Living Support

Free School Meals- A few changes to eligibility criteria

As from Monday 3rd March:

  • Fife pupils in P6 & P7 qualify for free school meals if their parent or carer also receives the Scottish Child Payment for them, but they need to apply if they are not already receiving them.
  • Payment under the above scheme does not give entitlement to payment in lieu of free school meals during school holidays.
  • Children in P1 to P5 will continue to receive free school meals regardless of household income, but those who qualify due to low income should still make an application in order to receive free school milk, a school clothing grant and payment in lieu of free school meals during the holidays.

As from Tuesday 1st April:

Fife Council has been notified of a change impacting those eligible for Free School meals due to being in receipt of Universal Credit, regardless of the child’s age.The National Living Wage increases from this date and so the maximum earned income level will also increase to reflect this.Children and young people will be eligible to receive free school meals if their parents or carers are in receipt of any of the following:

  • Universal Credit (where their monthly earned income is not more than £850, up from the current level of £796).
  • Income support;
  • Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance;
  • Income-based Employment and Support Allowance;
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;

Low Pay Report

Last week, the Living Wage Foundation published their latest report exploring the current state of low pay in the UK. The research shows that last year saw the largest annual rise in the number and proportion of low paid jobs on record with 4.5 million workers in the UK being paid below the real Living Wage. Read more.

One third of Scottish households have no savings

A new report has been published by University of Bristol Personal Finance Research Centre and Abrdn Financial Fairness Trust regarding the financial resilience of Scottish Households. The report highlights signs of lower household financial resilience in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK, a figure which has deteriorated by 6 percentage points since 2023.

Findings from the 11th Financial Fairness Tracker Survey

The Cost of Living crisis - It never went away

Following the announcement of the Energy Price Cap rise by OFGEM, the CEO of Citizens Advice Scotland shares opinions based on evidence from bureaux. The average energy debt held by people coming to the Scottish CAB network is £2,500, but rises to more than £3,100 for people living in rural areas. Council Tax debt continues to remain the single largest debt the network deals with each year.

The cost of living crisis isn’t back: it never went away  - TFN

As always, please get in touch with Sheena Watson or Audrey Whyte if you would like more information on any of this week’s content. We would also value any contributions you would like to make towards future editions.

Contact: Sheena Watson

Email: sheena.watson@fife.gov.uk