How do I qualify for Free School Meals?

Parents/guardians who receive any of the following benefits are entitled to Free School Meals:-

• Income Support (IS)
• Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
• Child Tax Credit without Working Tax Credit with an annual taxable income (as assessed by HMR&C) of less than £16,190
• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance (IBJSA)
• Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

If you have recently become unemployed but are still receiving Working Tax Credits, you may be entitled to Free School Meals for a four week period only, please call us on 0845 155 1019 for advice.

Please note the following benefits do not qualify for Free School Meals: Contributions based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Invalidity Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Child Benefit.

What age must my child be to receive Free School Meals?

Nursery aged children can receive Free School Meals if:-

• They attend an LA maintained nursery (not private)
• They attend before and after lunch sessions

Students attending sixth forms can receive Free School Meals if:-

• They attend tertiary education in a school not at a tertiary college

How do I apply?

Free School Meals are administered by Devon County Council (DCC) for all Devon maintained schools and you should apply to Devon if your child(ren) are attending a Devon school. DCC are responsible for Free School Meals NB Plymstock School and Coombe Dean School and if your child(ren) attend these schools you need to apply to DCC.

The claimant in receipt of the qualifying benefit will need to apply:

• Phone 0845 155 1019 with your National Insurance Number, date of birth, name and child’s details and an eligibility check can be carried out using the Department for Education’s Eligibility Checking System, this will confirm if your details have been matched or not. It will not tell us what benefits you are in receipt of, dates when a benefit was awarded or say how much you receive
• Download the application form below or pick one up from your child’s school
• Complete an online application below
• Once we have received your application, we will enter your details onto the Department for Education’s Eligibility Checking System and it will tell us if you are entitled or not.
• We will then inform your child’s school and send you a letter with our decision, usually within 5-10 working days.
• If it states AUTHORISED: we will inform the school and your child will be able to receive Free School Meals.
• If it states NOT AUTHORISED: we will inform the school and if you still believe you are entitled, please call 0845 155 1019 for advice. We may need you to send us evidence that you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
• You no longer have to reapply! Once we have your details on record we will carry out regular checks to see whether you are still entitled.
• Download the application form (126KB - pdf help) (revised June 2011) or apply online by visiting Free School Meals - register online.

When you apply, you won’t need to provide us with any evidence of your benefit, we can check your eligibility status for you.