Applying for Free School Meals

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you receive 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)

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Families with no recourse to public funds

Anyone who is subject to immigration controls may not have access to benefits.

Families who may be eligible include (but are not limited to):

  • Zambrano carers
  • have the right to remain in the UK under Article 8 of the ECHR
  • receiving support under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
  • receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 AND are subject to a NRPF condition
  • Chen carers
  • families holding a BNO passport
  • spousal visa holders
  • Work visa holders
  • Student visa holders
  • those with no immigration status

Income of families applying for free school meals

To be eligible for free school meals, your family's annual household income must be no higher than:

  • £22,700 for families outside of London with one child
  • £26,300 for families outside of London with two or more children

This includes any wider income or support you may be getting and any earnings from employment.

You must also have less than £16,000 in savings, including any shares, investments and bank accounts, but not including your home.

If you receive Universal Credit and are not already claiming free school meals for your children, make sure you don’t miss out and apply:

  • Where possible all parents and guardians should apply online – you will receive an immediate response advising you whether you are eligible or not
  • If you are unable to apply online please contact the free school meals team – telephone:  0300 373 3730

You will need to register an account first.

These are the steps to register online at Cumberland Council’s Citizen Portal:

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4