Applying for Free School Meals

Families who receive the following are eligible for free school meals:

• income support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
• guarantee element of state pension credit
• Universal Credit (with an annual income of less than £7,400)
• Both income-based and contribution-based JSA/ESA if you receive the same amount for both. You should also qualify if you receive both but the income-based amount is greater, but not if the contribution-based amount is greater.
• Families who are awarded Child Tax Credit and have an annual income, as assessed by HMRC, not in excess of £16,190 are also eligible to claim free school meals providing there is no entitlement to Working Tax Credit (unless in respect of a 4-week ‘run-on’).

The online checking system only confirms or denies your eligibility to claim free school meals, it does not give us any other information.

If you are currently in receipt of either Universal Credit or the four week run on of Working Tax Credit you will need to send proof to us you have completed and saved your application