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.
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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
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.
where you can complete an online application to see if you are eligible. 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.