Free school meals

• In receipt of Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers Allowance;
  or
• in receipt of Maximum Child Tax Credits;
  and
• have an annual taxable income of less than £15,575;
• do not work more than 16 hrs per week;
• do not receive Working Tax Credit ;
  or
• receive support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999.

You can obtain an application form by telephoning us on 01952 383983, or simply click on the link below:
Download free school meals application form

Alternatively you can speak to the administrator at your child's school.

How to apply for free school meals
If you make an application for either Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit, the application form you complete allows you to also apply for free school meals at the same time.

If you do not claim either Housing or Council Tax Benefit, or wish to make a separate claim for free school meals, you will need to complete a separate application form.

You can also seek advice or collect an application from your child's school.

If your application is successful we will notify you so that you know your child(ren) have entitlement to free school meals. We also notify your child's school.

Each school receives a weekly register showing the names of all children who are entitled to free school meals.

Should your circumstances change, i.e. you start work, or increase your worked hours to above 16 per week, or cease being entitled to Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance, you must notify us immediately. Each school has the right to ask you to repay the value of any school meals which your child has been given free, if they were not entitled to those meals.

How to contact us about free school meals
The telephone number of our free school meals helpline is:
01952 383983. Please note only free school meals enquiries can be dealt with on this number.

You can request an application form, make enquiries about an existing free school meals claim or ask whether you may qualify for free school meals on the above number.

Our Customer Contact Centre can also offer advice and assistance about free school meals and all other Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Council Tax matters. Their number is 01952 383838.