How do I know if my child is eligible for free school meals?

Your child may qualify if you have any of these incomes:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• the guaranteed part of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (as long as your annual gross income is £16,190 or less and  you don’t get Working Tax Credit)
• Working Tax Credit run-off after you come off Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit that you applied for on, or after, 1 April 2018. As long as your household income is less than £7,400 a year after tax, not including any benefits

Children who receive these benefits themselves instead of through a parent or guardian can also qualify for free school meals.

Your child may qualify if you are an asylum seeker.

Why should I claim?

With the introduction of nutritional standards for school meals, children who take advantage of them are now guaranteed at least two of their five daily portions of fruit and vegetables, along with other essential vitamins and minerals, which plays an important role in developing healthy eating habits.  Consumption of healthy school meals can influence children’s food diet at home, helping to develop healthy eating habits, and exposing them to foods such as new types of fruits and vegetables which they might not otherwise have tried.  And while the consumption of junk food is also linked to poor behaviour, which can negatively affect children’s learning at school, provision of healthier school meals has been shown to improve classroom behaviour, helping to improve academic performance.

Will other students know that I get free school meals?

No. Our cashless catering system means that there are no “tickets”: you claim your lunch using your thumbprint like all other students.

How do I claim for free school meals?

You can check if your child is eligible for free school meals by following the link below:

Or you can read more by visiting the website of your Local Authority below: