Up to 1.8 million UK children are entitled to free school meals
but more than 330,000 pupils don't get their entitlement. For some
children, the social stigma or even teasing attached to 'being on
free dinners' puts them off. Often parents don't realise they're
entitled - or are discouraged by the likely bureaucracy.
Who qualifies?
If your child, or a child you're responsible
for, goes to primary, secondary or a special school
and the parent or guardian receives any of the following
benefits they don't have to pay
for school meals.
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment Support Allowance
- The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit - but not Working
Tax Credit or work over 16 hours per week, and your total
annual household income must be below £16,190 as assessed by
HMRC
.
- Got Working Tax Credit during the four-week period
immediately after your employment finished, or after you start
to work less than 16 hours per week; or
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act
1999.
Children who receive Income Support or income-based Job Seekers
Allowance in their own right are also eligible to receive free
school meals.
The parent or guardian must also:
- Get Child Benefit for the child you're responsible for;
and
- Live in the Rochdale borough, this includes Heywood and
Middleton.
School uniform grant
If your child is at secondary school or in
the same age group at a special school you can also claim a
uniform grant.
You can only receive one school uniform grant for each
child that qualifies, every 12 months.
How do I apply?
To apply for free school meals or a school uniform
grant:
When returning the form please provide proof of
your qualifying benefit otherwise your claim will be
delayed.
If you've claimed Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit
or both, and ticked the box to claim free school meals or a
school uniform grant, you don't need to fill in a
separate form.
What happens if you award free school meals for a period I have
already paid for?
If we award free school meals for a period of time that you've
already paid for, and want a refund you need to contact the school
directly.
Withdrawal of free school meals
During a period of entitlement there may be a change
in your or your childs circumstances and free school
meals may be withdrawn, the most common reasons include:
- The parent or guardian ceases to receive a qualifying
benefit;
- The child leaves school;
- The family move out of the borough;
- The child goes onto packed lunches (long term); or
- The child is absent from school for a long period of time.
All changes of circumstance must be reported to the
Revenues & Benefits Service by the claimant, but if the school
is aware of a change which will affect entitlement, then we can
accept details of the change from the school.
When entitlement to free school meals are
withdrawn, notification letters are sent to the
parent. The school meals are then withdrawn seven
days after the cancellation date. This is so the parents
and the school receive some notice of meals ceasing, and it gives
time for alternative meal arrangements to be made.
Backdating
Free school meals are generally awarded from the date the
application form is received. But, if there's a break of
four to five weeks in a claim for free school meals they
would normally be reinstated back to the date of cancellation
providing the claimant was in receipt of a qualifying benefit
for the whole of the period in question.
It's possible for free school meals to be backdated,
especially if there are arrears involved, providing the
claimant was in receipt of a qualifying benefit for the whole
of the period in question. The parent must give good
reasons, in writing, as to why they want their childs school meals
backdating, and if the explanation given is reasonable,
then the award will be backdated.
Do I have to re-apply for free school meals and a school
uniform grant every year?
No, as long as you still meet the qualifying
criteria your child will continue to receive free school meals
and if your child still goes to secondary school we'll send a
cheque for the school uniform grant every year.
Is there any other financial help available?
There might be. If you've a child who is aged 16 - 18 and still
in full-time education, they may qualify for an Education
Maintenance Allowance. They may also be able to get financial help
towards the cost of books, equipment, travel expenses, and other
costs connected with going to school.
You could ask their school’s Education Welfare Officer for
advice.
For more information call into any of our Customer
Service Centres, or phone Connexions 0800 195
8528.