Parents claiming some benefits can also claim free school meals for any of their children who are registered at a Staffordshire school and who would normally be at school at lunch time.

Who can get free school meals?

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• 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 guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• 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)
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit – if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Proof of benefit

Staffordshire County Council doesn’t always need to see proof of which benefit you are on in order to process your application. They can now check to see if you are entitled by using the National Free School Meals Eligibility Checking Service.

For this service to be used and to process your claim quickly, you must make sure that you include your National Insurance number and own date of birth on the form. Note: by signing the form you are agreeing for Staffordshire County Council to check this service.

If the check shows that you are not entitled you will be ask for recent, written proof of benefit. Suitable written proof includes an Income Support book or a recent letter from the Benefits Agency giving details of the claim, your Pension Credit M1000 Award Notice or, in the case of Child Tax Credit, a form from the Inland Revenue detailing your entitlement.

The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

If you are receiving support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, please contact us, and we will give you more details of how to claim free meals for your children.

Further Information

If you would like to apply for free school meals please contact the school or email: freeschoolmeals@staffordshire.gov.uk

How to apply

You should complete the form, filling in the names of all the children you want to claim for. You only need to fill in
one form even if your children
go to different schools.

Apply online

Apply online using the online application form.

Apply by post

Print off one of the forms below, ask your school to give you a form to fill in, or contact us to send you one in the post.

If applying by post, the completed form should be sent to:

Free School Meals
Staffordshire County Council
Tipping Street
Stafford
ST16 2DH

Or

Attendance Officer
Chase Terrace Academy,
Bridge Cross Road,
Burntwood
WS7 2DB