Free School Meals

• Income Support (IS);
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA);
• An income-related Employment and Support Allowance;
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
• Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) that as of April 2013 does not exceed £16,190. Note: From 1st May 2009 where you are entitled to Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after your employment ceases, or after you start to work less than 16 hours per week, your children are entitled to Free School Meals, this may be extended.
• Working Tax Credit Run On (for four weeks after finishing work)
• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit;

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU ARE IN RECEIPT OF WORKING TAX CREDIT YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS OR CLOTHING GRANT.

Children who receive Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers Allowance in their own right are also entitled to receive Free School Meals.

Children who receive “education suitable for children who have not attained compulsory school age” will still need to satisfy the additional requirement of “receiving education both before and after the lunch period”, before being eligible to receive free school meals.

If you receive one of these benefits, you should complete Form WB1 (below) to apply for free school meals.

Your eligibility will be checked electronically, however if we are unable to confirm your eligibility you will be asked to provide recent proof of the qualifying benefit you are receiving together with proof of Child Benefit.  Documents and letters older than 3 months are not acceptable nor are photocopies or signing on cards. Original documents will be returned to you.

In primary schools, entitled pupils receive whatever is on the menu that day. A cafeteria system operates in secondary schools and pupils are given a token to make their own selection.