The award of free school meals is a benefit applicable to students under the age of 19 where the parent or carer is in receipt of one of the benefits below:
- Income support
- Income-based jobseekers allowance
- Income Related Employment support allowance
- Child tax credit - provided you are a/ not receiving Working Tax Credit*, and b/ do not have an annual income that exceeds £16,190** (as assessed by H.M. Revenue and Customs)
- The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- A letter of support under Part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
*Working Tax Credit is available from H.M. Revenue and Customs to employees and self-employed people, and provides extra financial support for parents who have children. This means you will not qualify for free school meals if you receive it, irrespective of your total annual income.
**The annual income threshold of £16,190 will remain the same for the 2011/12 Financial Year.
Where a parent is entitled to working tax credit during the four-week period immediately after their employment stops, or after they start to work less than 16 hours per week, their children will be entitled to free school meals. When applying to us for free school meals, you will be asked to provide proof of your change in circumstances.
By law no other category of benefit payment or combination of tax credits qualifies for free school meals. Similarly, there are no other circumstances that can legally justify the provision of a free school meal.