Free School Meals
Free School Meals Eligibility
Children in year 3 and above
If your child is in Year 3 or above, and you receive one of the listed qualifying benefits, your child may be eligible for free school meals.
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Child Tax Credit (not Working Tax Credit), with an annual income below £16,190
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance, income related
- Support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act, 1999
- Working Tax Credit run-on, paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit, with a household income of £7,400 or less (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
In accordance with national Department for Education advice, we cannot accept evidence of provisional tax awards.
Please visit: Free school meals: Eligibility for free school meals | Essex County Council for more advice & information on Free School meals & Holiday Support.
Related content - Pupil Premium
Pupil Premium is extra funding schools can claim for children from low income families. GOV.UK has more information about the funding, including how schools should spend it.
