Free school meals
Key information
Schools must provide a free midday meal to
pupils if they (or their parents) get certain benefits.
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and
Northern Ireland
Administered by: Your local council
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Who does it help?
Schools must provide a free midday meal to pupils if they (or
their parents) get certain benefits.
For your child to qualify for free school meals, you must
get:
However, in England and Wales, if you are
getting Working Tax Credit for a run on period of four weeks
because you have stopped work or reduced your hours to less than 16
hours a week, or in some cases, less than 24 or 30 hours a week,
you may still be able to get free school meals for your
children.
Children who get Income Support or
income-based Job Seeker's Allowance in
their own right qualify as well.
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What help does the benefit provide?
Pupils getting free meals may not always get the same meals as
those paying in full. In a cafeteria-system, your child will
probably get vouchers to pay for their lunch.
If your child gets free school meals, they might also get free
milk at school.
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How much does it pay?
If you get vouchers, their value depends on your local
council. They are responsible for administering the free
school meals system.
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How to claim
You need to get in touch with your local council (link
opens in a new window) to claim free school meals. They
may have their own application forms for you to fill in.
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Documents you need
You will need evidence of your financial circumstances.
Further information
This information has been produced by Citizens Advice.
Last updated: 19 October 2012
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