School Meals – Free School Meals – Tameside have sent new information and forms with regards to free school meals. Registering for Free School Meals could raise an extra £1,320 for school to fund valuable support like extra tuition, additional teaching staff or after school activities. This additional money is available from central government for every child whose parent is receiving one of the welfare benefits listed below.
For more information on Free School Meals please visit – Free School Meal Guidance
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Free School Meals
Children are entitled to receive free school meals if they or their parents or guardians receive any of the benefits below.
- Universal Credit, provided they have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400(£616.67 per month)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, provided they are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by HMRC
- Working Tax Credit run-out – paid 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
How do I apply for free school meals?
Free School Meals can be claimed by Parents or Guardians of pupil’s who are on a low income. All claims will be processed by your child’s school.
Eligible income includes:
- Universal Credit, provided they have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400(£616.67 per month)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, provided they are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by HMRC
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
In addition, the following pupils will be protected against losing their free school meals as
follows: - Since 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants have continued to
receive free school meals whilst Universal Credit is rolled out. This applies even if
their earnings rise above the threshold during that time. - In addition, any pupil gaining eligibility for free school meals after 1 April 2018 will
be protected against losing free school meals until March 2025. - After March 2025, any existing claimants that no longer meet the eligibility criteria
at that point (because they are earning above the threshold or are no longer a
recipient of Universal Credit) will continue to receive free school meals until the
end of their current phase of education (i.e. primary or secondary)A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal when a claim for the meal has been
made on their behalf and their eligibility, or protected status, has been verified by the
school where they are enrolled or by the local authority.I don’t currently claim free school meals – what does this means for me?
If you think you might be eligible for free school meals, submit a claim to your child’s school. Your school should have a form you can use. The Information you provide will be used to check if you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit and, if you are on Universal Credit, that your earnings do not exceed the threshold. If you claim Universal Credit, your earnings will be assessed from up to three of your last Universal Credit assessment periods.
If you are eligible, your child will receive free school meals and the school will receive extra funding.
You can complete an online application to see if you are eligible and return to school. If it is undecided, then proof of benefits will be required to be shown at school.
Please note this entitlement is in addition to the actual meal offered under Universal Infant Free School Meals, which all Infants, regardless of income, are entitled to. To qualify for the income based free school meal please check the link below.
Universal School Meals
From September 2014 every Child in Year Reception to Year 2 is entitled to a free school meal under the Universal Free School Meal Scheme.