CEOP Tell Us

Free School Meals

Applying for Free School Meals

Eligibility

A child is eligible for free school meals if their parent or carer receives one or more of the following benefits:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Job Seekers' Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit, provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit, and have an annual gross income, of no more than £16,190 as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (Parents who are made redundant or start working less that 16 hours per week, may find their children are entitled to free meals for a limited period.)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit: Previously, families on Universal Credit only qualified for free school meals if their household income was under £7,400 a year. The government has now expanded the system into two distinct categories:

    1. Expanded Free School Meals
    All families receiving Universal Credit are now entitled to free daily school meals for their children, regardless of household income.

    2. Targeted Free School Meals
    This applies to families receiving Universal Credit who have an annual household income of £7,400 or less

    Important: While children in both groups receive free school meals, only children in the "Targeted" category are Pupil Premium.

A parent or carer can either check their child's eligibility or apply for Pupil Premium or continued free school meals with the link below to the HC3S online service.

To complete a check or to apply you will need the following information for yourself, or the person you are checking on behalf of: