Free school meals (FSM)
You can apply for free school meals if your child is in full time education and you receive any of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
If you receive Working Tax Credit you will not be entitled to free school meals unless you have stopped work in the last four weeks.
Children who receive Income Support or Income Based JobSeeker's Allowance in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals.