Does my child qualify for free school meals?

If you are in receipt of any of the following, your child may be eligible for free school meals.

• Income Support
• Income based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit, with no element of Working Tax Credit, and a household income below £16,190 (as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs)
• Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit
• Universal Credit - Income Dependant:  Changes to free school meals eligibility under Universal Credit - information for schools (PDF 107KB)

Children in care or children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Children in care and children with SEN do not automatically qualify for free school meals. No discretionary services are offered to these children, as free schools meals is a means tested scheme. The family will need to meet the eligibility criteria above.

If a child resides in a local authority care home, they will not qualify for free school meals. This is because government funding has already been allocated to fund their meals.

How do I apply?