Free School Meals

Qualifying for free school meals

To qualify for free school meals, you must fulfil one of the following criteria:

• Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods (£616.67 per month)
• Income Support 
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, provided you are also not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual household gross income that does not exceed £16,190 (as assessed by HMRC) or
• Working Tax Credit run-on, paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.

Please note that contributions-based benefits, including contribution- related Jobseeker’s Allowance do not entitle you to claim free school meal

Frequently asked questions

If my child is at nursery, is he/she still entitled to free school meals? Nursery children are entitled to free meals if they meet all the following criteria:

• Their parents receive one of the qualifying benefits for free school meals
• The child receives education before and after the lunch-time period
• The child is in a maintained nursery provision and
• The parents, or another responsible adult, have made a claim for a free meal.

Apply here

Check your eligibility for Free School Meals here

Applications are usually processed within five working days. You will be notified in writing, either by post or email, if your child is entitled and they will also let the school know. You should continue to pay until confirmation comes through. Schools may be able to arrange reimbursement of payment made while your entitlement is being confirmed.

Free school meals claims cannot be backdated. They are awarded from the date we receive the application once eligibility is confirmed. This is because there is a legal requirement for a request to be made before a free school meal can be provided.

If you are not entitled to free school meals, you will be notified in writing.

Universal free school meals for infants

If your child is in Reception, Year One or Year Two, they are automatically entitled to a free school meal. Parents who are on benefits and meet the above criteria are still encouraged to apply for additional funding, known as pupil premium funding. This benefits the school and helps increase your child's attainment. During the current roll out of Universal Credit, if your child is approved for free school meals they will gain 'transitional protection' until at least March 2022.