Free school meals eligibility criteria
To qualify for free school meals, a pupil or their parents must get one or more of the following:
- Income Support
- Income based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit (if not eligible for Working Tax Credit and have a yearly household income below £16,190)
- Guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Support under part VI of the immigration and asylum Act 1999
- Universal Credit (household yearly net income must be below £7,400 after tax)
Parents getting contribution-based benefits like Job Seekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Working Tax Credit, or similar benefits cannot apply.
Parents will get a letter saying if their child qualifies, and the council will tell the school.
We will check if you qualify each year and let you know by letter.
Change of circumstances
Parents should tell the council about any changes, this could be:
- starting work or a change in benefits
- moving to a new address
- changing schools
Appeals
Parents may appeal if free school meals are denied and provide supporting evidence.