Free School Meals

Who qualifies for Free School Meals?

Parents are entitled to free school meals for their children if they are in receipt of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit with an annual income of less than £16,190, provided they are not receiving Working Tax Credit
• The ‘Guaranteed’ element of the State Pension Credit
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Universal Credit

Please note: people receiving Working Tax Credit, regardless of their income level, do not qualify. People in receipt of Working Tax Credit ‘run-on’ (the payment someone can get for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit) will be entitled to Free School Meals for their children for this period.

Why are Free School Meals important?

The benefits of children getting a free and nutritionally balanced meal are well documented, but children who qualify for Free School Meals may also get help with the following:

• Help with the cost residential school trips.
• Help with travel costs to school.
• Help with school uniform costs (through your child’s school).
• Help with council run music lessons at school.
• Extra funding to support them at school. This funding is known as the Pupil Premium. Primary schools will receive £1300 this year for every child registered for free school meals.

Applications can be made online at www.bradford.gov.uk/schoolmeals