Advice & Information

Free School Meals 

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• 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)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Please apply by following the link https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals 

Universal Credit & Benefits

You may be able to get Universal Credit if:

• you’re on a low income or out of work
• you’re 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
• you’re under State Pension age (or your partner is)
• you and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you
• you live in the UK
• Your partner’s income and savings will be taken into account, even if they are not eligible for Universal Credit.

• Your Universal Credit payment is made up of a standard allowance and any extra amounts that apply to you, for example if you:

• have children
• have a disability or health condition which prevents you from working
• need help paying your rent

What you need to apply

You’ll need:

• your bank, building society or credit union account details (call the Universal Credit helpline if you do not have one)
• an email address
• information about your housing, for example how much rent you pay
• details of your income, for example payslips
• details of savings and any investments, like shares or a property that you rent out
• details of how much you pay for childcare if you’re applying for help with childcare costs

If you do not provide the right information when you apply it might affect when you get paid or how much you get.

You also have to verify your identity online. You’ll need some proof of identity for this, for example your:

• driving licence
• passport
• debit or credit card

Please follow the link to apply for Universal Credit - https://www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk/register/legacy-to-uc-confirmation 

For more information from the DFE & Government - please click on the following links:

Department for Education Coronavirus helpline - There is a new helpline to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows:

• Phone: 0800 046 8687
• Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
• Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)