A balanced and regular diet supports concentration and performance. These are factors that play an important role in everyday school life and in daycare centres.
Although the hot lunch is the main meal of the day, many of the youngest children often do not eat lunch together due to the family's difficult financial situation.
In such cases, families in need are supported by the federal government's education and participation package. This means that if the daycare centre or school offers a regular, hot lunch, children and young people from families who receive unemployment benefit II, social assistance, child supplement or housing benefit or benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act can take advantage of a free lunch.
"It is advisable to claim the costs incurred for participation in the communal lunch service as soon as the relevant social benefit has been approved," explains Andreas Boennen, Head of the Integration Department at the Salzlandkreis Job Centre. As the costs are settled directly with the meal providers, the further procedure for covering the costs is very straightforward for the parents.
The employees of the Integration and Participation Department of the Salzlandkreis Job Centre advise parents and pupils on eligibility requirements, support options and application forms.
Further information on the education and participation package can be found on the Jobcentre's website at www.jc.salzlandkreis.de/leistungsberechtigte/bildung-und-teilhabe/.