You can apply for free school meals if you are in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit – your household earned income must be less than £7,400 (£616 per month) a year (after tax and not including any benefits)
- Income Support
- Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income related Employment Support Allowance
- Support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit – (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual income of no more than £16,190
- Working Tax Credit run-on, this is paid for four weeks after Working Tax Credit ends
If you qualify your child will be able to get a free healthy and nutritious school meal until they finish the stage of schooling (primary or secondary) they’re in in 2023, even if your circumstances change and could save you over £400 per year.
You could also raise an extra £1,320 for your child’s primary school and £935 for your child’s secondary school, to fund valuable support which could include educational visits, school activities, equipment, extra tuition or additional teaching staff.
This additional money is available for every child entitled to free school meals and will continue for up to six years.
Even if you don’t want your child to have a meal, don’t let your school miss out on this important funding that will benefit your child. If your child is in reception, year 1 or 2 and automatically gets a free meal we still need you to apply so your school gets this additional funding.
