Free School Meals Information for Schools
Schools queries regarding Free School Meal entitlements
Please Note We aim to answer online enquiries from schools regarding pupil entitlement within 24 hours and you can help us improve our service by submitting your queries using our online form.
Please inform us of any school changes so we can update our system and keep our records up to date.
We would be grateful if schools would encourage parents/guardians to use our online application form when applying for Free School Meals. Before a parent makes an application please ask them to check if there is an existing claim by using the online enquiry form. Duplicate claims can cause delays in administration and create confusion in the system.
Free School Meals and how to know if a child is eligible
Free School Meals are a statutory benefit. The Government does not allow us to recognise any qualifying income other than those mentioned below. A parent is entitled to Free School Meals for their children if they receive:
- Income Support, or
- Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based), or
- State Pension Credit (Guaranteed Credit), or
- Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) , or
- Child Tax Credit and have an annual gross income as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs which does not exceed £16,190.00 for 2012/13
- Asylum Seeker status
There is no entitlement to Free School Meals if the parent, receives any Working Tax Credit on a regular basis.
However, from the 1st May 2009 if a parent loses their job or sees their working hours reduce to less than 16 hours, and because of this are still entitled to Working Tax Credit for a four week period (also known as Working Tax Credit Run On), their children are entitled to Free School Meals.
Please note that in cases where children receive 'education suitable for children who have not attained compulsory school age', there will be a conditional requirement that they receive education both before and after the lunch period, before being eligible to receive Free School Meals.
How can the parent apply?
- If the parent applies for housing or council tax benefit and are in receipt of any of the above, we will automatically process their claim. A separate Free School Meals application form will need to be completed for parents not in receipt of Housing/Council Tax Benefit who may still qualify for Free School Meals.
- The form must be completed by the parent or guardian who receives child benefit
- Parents will only be asked for proof of child benefit, income support, job seekers allowance (income based) or child tax credit if we cannot confirm their entitlement to these benefits
The form is available online, or as a download application to complete and return or a form can be sent through the post. The online form is the fastest way to apply.
Who is notified of the decision?
Once the application is processed we will notify both the school and the parent.
What if a child changes school?
The benefits office needs to know as soon as possible so that we can notify the new school about their entitlement.
What happens to free school meals if the parent stops receiving a qualifying benefit?
The parent must notify the benefits office as soon as they stop receiving a qualifying benefit.
The free school meal will stop and we will notify the school of this.
The school should bill the parent for any meals taken for which they are not entitled.
Did you know...?
If a child is eligible for free school meals it is worth a parent registering them even if they're not going to have school lunches. The school will receive a payment for each child who is registered - £488 for 2011-12 per pupil and will increase to £600 per pupil for 2012-13. This money can help them provide extra support like tuition, learning assistants and after school clubs.
Important Note: The free school meals scheme is administered by the benefits service and all enquiries should be made to the local authority in the area where the child attends school.
last Updated 23/02/12