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Coronavirus: Free school meals

All schools are open and eligible families will continue to receive their free school meal at school.

Only children whose parents and carers meet the eligibility criteria will receive the free school meal entitlement during this time.  The universal offer is not included with the ongoing arrangements.  

Free school meal criteria

  • Income support
  • Income-based jobseeker's allowance
  • Income-related employment and support allowance
  • National asylum seeker support
  • Child tax credit (provided you’re not also entitled to working tax credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
  • The guaranteed element of state pension credit
  • Working tax credit run-on - paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit.
  • Universal credit with annual net earned income of less than £7,400 

Make a free school meal application based upon this criteria

Extension of the free school meal criteria

The temporarily extended free school meal eligibility to include some children of groups who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF).

These groups are:

  • children of Zambrano carers
  • children of families with no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
  • children of families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction

These groups are subject to a maximum household income threshold of £28,200.

It has also temporarily extended eligibility to children of a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This group is not subject to a maximum household income threshold as these families are not able to work.  Documentary evidence and proof of earnings will be required when making an application.  

Make an extended free school meal application

How will i receive the free school meal

Schools can choose how they provide the entitlement.  If you are entitled and not aware of the arrangement, contact the school direct.