Your child may qualify for free school meals if you meet certain criteria based on your financial situation. Here’s a quick overview of the eligibility criteria:
| Eligibility Criteria |
|---|
| Universal Credit with annual earnings not exceeding £7,400 |
| Income Support |
| Income Based Jobseekers Allowance |
| Income-related Employment and Support Allowance |
| Child Tax Credit (provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) with an income not exceeding £16,190 |
| Working Tax Credit run on (paid for 4 weeks after stopping qualifying for Working Tax Credit) |
| Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit |
| Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 |
| For families with no recourse to public funds, income thresholds are higher: £22,700 for 1 child, £26,300 for 2 or more children. |
If you believe you qualify, you can apply by picking up an application form at your child's school or printing it from the council website. For your convenience, you can apply online here.