Who is eligible for free school meals?
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
- Universal Credit with a household income of less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get).
- Income-Based Jobseekers' Allowance.
- Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance.
- Child Tax Credit, not entitled to Working Tax Credit and household income less than £16,190.
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
- Guarantee element of State Pension Credit.
- Income Support.
- Working Tax Credit 'run on' – the payment you receive for a further four weeks after you finish work.
If your claim was approved on or before 31 March 2025, your child's eligibility for free school meals will be protected until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they are in, even if your circumstances change.
If you have a younger child starting school in September and you are no longer eligible, they will not be protected because this would be a new claim.
Any claims approved after 1 April 2025, will not have transitional protection. Claims will be re-assessed on an annual basis.
Online claims can be made at:
https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools/free-school-meals/