Free School Meals
Who Qualifies for Free School Meals?
Free School Meals can only be awarded if you or your partner are claiming either;
- Universal Credit, and your annual household income is £7,400 per annum (£616 per month) or less after tax, and not including any benefits
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act, 1999
- Child Tax Credit, provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual income is less than £16,190, as assessed by HMRC
- Guaranteed Pension Credit
- Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
- Working Tax Credit run-on paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
What is Pupil Premium?
Pupil Premium is extra money paid direct to schools for each child who is eligible for free school meals. It is used to support your child's education. Please apply for free schools meals if you are eligible so your school gets this money.
Additional Criteria
If your child attends a state school, and one or more of the following applies to your family, your child can get free school meals:
- Zambrano carers
- families who have no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
- families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction
- a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Chen carers
- families holding a BN(O) passport
- spousal visa holders
- work visa holders
- student visa holders
- those with no immigration status
Families must also meet the following financial criteria:
- £22,700 for families with 1 child
- £26,300 for families with 2 or more children
How do I apply for Free School Meals?
You can apply online click here
Contact Free School Meals Team on Tel 01905 845280 or at FreeSchoolMeals@worcestershire.gov.uk if you have any queries.
