Free school meals
The free school meals scheme is administered by the benefits service.
Free School Meal Entitlement
Important Note: All enquiries should be made to the local authority in the area where you live.
Free School Meals and how to know if your 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. You are entitled to Free School Meals for your children if you 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
- Asylum Seeker status
You will not be entitled to Free School Meals If you, or your partner, receive 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 do I apply?
- If you apply for housing or council tax benefit and are in receipt of any of the above, we will automatically process your claim. If you do not wish to claim housing or council tax benefit, a separate Free School Meals application form will need to be completed
- Even if you do not qualify for housing benefit/council tax benefit, you can still claim as long as you receive a qualifying income
- The form must be completed by the parent or guardian who receives child benefit
- You will only be asked for proof of child benefit, income support, job seekers allowance (income based) or child tax credit if we cannot confirm your entitlement
Please complete the form online, download an application form to complete and return or alternatively request a form to be sent through the post.
Who is notified of the decision?
Once your application is processed we will notify both you and the school .
What if my child changes school?
You must notify the benefits office as soon as possible so that we can notify the new school.
What happens to free school meals if I stop receiving a qualifying benefit?
You must notify the benefits office as soon as you stop receiving a qualifying benefit.
Your free school meal will stop and we will notify the school of this.
The school may send you a bill for any meals taken for which you are not entitled.
How do I contact you to enquire about my child's Free School Meal Entitlement?
If you have already applied for Free School Meals, or your child is already receiving Free School Meals and you want to ask us a question, make an enquiry or have some information that you want to give us, you can contact us by using the online form.
Did you know...
If your child is eligible for free school meals it is worth 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/ 2012 increasing to £600 from April 2012. This money can help them provide extra support like tuition, learning assistants and after school clubs.
Last updated 12/04/2012