Eligibility for Free School Meals

From 6 April 2008 there will be a change to the income ‘threshold’, which forms part of the ‘Tax Credit’ free school meal eligibility category. The new threshold figure will be £15,575.

Children whose parents receive the following support payments are entitled to receive free school meals:

• Income Support (IS);
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA);
• an income-related employment and support allowance (this benefit will be introduced from 27 October 2008)
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; or
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) that does not exceed £15,575.
• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit.

Children who receive IS or IBJSA in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals.

It should be noted that children who receive “education suitable for children who have not attained compulsory school age” will still need to satisfy the additional requirement of “receiving education both before and after the lunch period”, before being eligible to receive free school meals.

To apply click here.