Free school meals full eligibility rules explained including list of benefits
The rules for free school meals can be complex, as it depends on what part of the UK you live in.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has today confirmed that pupils in the capital will receive free school meals for another year, if he wins a third term at City Hall. The scheme for London pupils was announced last September and was supposed to only last for one year. It could now run throughout the 2024/25 school year.
But who exactly is eligible for free school meals in England outside of London, and in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland? An estimated 900,000 school age children who live in poverty miss out on free school meals, according to research from the Child Poverty Action Group. We explain what you need to know.
Which pupils get free school meals automatically?
If you’re in England and your child goes to a state school, they’ll get free school meals if they’re in reception class, year 1 or year 2. After that, they are eligible only if you claim certain benefits, including Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit.
In Scotland, all state school children from primary one to primary five get free school meals. If you’re in Wales, all reception pupils in state schools get free school meals. This is being extended to all primary school students by September 2024, with some councils already offering free school meals to older primary school children.
Nursery apologises after child with Down's syndrome ‘treated less favourably’
The rules are different again in Northern Ireland, where free school meals are not given automatically - instead all parents claiming benefits have to apply.
Which benefits entitle your child to free school meals?
If your child is not included in the age groups we've mentioned above, or you live in Northern Ireland, you need to be claiming one of the following benefits to get free school meals:
- Child Tax Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Pension Credit (Guaranteed Element)
- Working Tax Credit (Scotland and Northern Ireland only)
- Working Tax Credit run-on (England and Wales only)
- Universal Credit
The earnings threshold for Universal Credit is £7,400 a year after tax and not including your benefits in England and Wales, £726 a month in Scotland and £14,000 a year in Northern Ireland.
If you're claiming Child Tax Credit in England and Wales, you need to not be entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual income must not exceed £16,190. In Scotland, you can get free school meals if you receive Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and your income is under £8,717. If you receive Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit your income should be under £18,725. You can claim Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit in Northern Ireland and receive free school meals if your earning do not exceed £16,190 a year.
In England and Wales, if you're classed as “having no recourse to public funds” your household income will need to be less than £22,700 if you have one child and live outside London, or £26,300 if you have more than one child and live outside London.
How do I apply for free school meals?
Depending on where you live, you have to apply through your local council, or directly through the Government. You may be asked to provide proof of your income or benefits. Here are the links for each nation of the UK:
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
