Free school meals
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 gets 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 get 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.
To apply for free school meals:
You no longer need to provide proof of your qualifying benefit
when you return the form, as we’ll check entitlement for free
school meals via a secure government website.
If you've claimed Housing
Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or both, and ticked the box to
claim free school meals you don't need
to fill in a separate form.
What happens if you award free school meals for a period I've
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meals may be withdrawn, the most common reasons include: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 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 getting 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 getting 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 every year?
No, as long as you still meet the qualifying
criteria your child will continue to receive free school
meals.
Is there any other financial help available?
Other help is available for pupils aged 16-19 in full-time
education, from the Local Education Authority.
If your child is struggling with the costs of
learning they should speak to student services at their school,
college or training provider for more information.
Or contact Rochdale Connexions, free on
0800 195 8528.
Where can I get
help?
If you would like information about other social security
benefits, or to check if you may be entitled to one of the
qualifying benefits mentioned above you can contact the
citizens advice bureau or our Advice Service.