Who is eligible for Free School Meals?

All infant school children, those in reception, year 1 and year 2 have been entitled to free school meals since September 2014. 

For children in years 3 and above, free school meals are not provided automatically. They can be awarded only if you receive any of the following:

• Income Support
• Job Seeker's Allowance (income-based)
• Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
• support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit - providing you are NOT entitled to Working Tax Credit and your family's annual income (as assessed by HMRC) is not more than £16,190 (as at 6 April 2012)
• Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment you may receive for a further four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods) 

Registering for Free School Meals

Register as soon as possible to make sure your child doesn't miss out. Registering for free school meals is confidential, no one will know you have registered and it will not affect any other benefits you are claiming: the easiest way is to apply online.