Can Your Child Claim Free School Meals?

Caerphilly County Borough Council is encouraging parents and carers to check if their child is eligible to claim free school meals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A child may be eligible to receive free school meals if their parent / carer are entitled to receive one of the following: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Income Support
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and their annual income does not exceed £16,190
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit ‘run-on’ – the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit

Parents who pay for their child to have school meals could save around £580 per year if they qualify for free school meals. Accessing free school meals also allows parents and carers to receive a one-off clothing grant of £105 when the child is moving from primary school to their first year of secondary school. Schools also receive an additional £1,050 funding for every child registered for free school meals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, Cllr. Nigel George, said “I would encourage all parents and carers to check if they’re eligible to claim free school meals. A hot, nutritiously balanced school meal is hugely beneficial to pupils and can assist their learning and wellbeing.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​