Is your family missing out on free school meals?

Many families that are entitled to free school meals are missing out by not claiming for support. Over the summer holidays, free school meals (in the form of supermarket vouchers or food parcels) will be provided for all children who are registered for free school meals. To make sure that your family does not miss out, make sure that you apply as soon as possible to your school or local authority.

Is my child eligible?

Your child might be eligible for free school meals if you or your child receives any of the following:

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)

• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

• Universal Credit - Your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) have also become temporarily eligible for free school meals support until schools reopen for all children.

Where can I find out more?

To find out more about eligibility for free school meals, please download the Free School Meals in England Information Sheet. Alternatively, please visit: www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals.