Universal Free School Meals

In England, all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 attending a government-funded school are entitled to free school meals regardless of household income under universal infant free school meals (UIFSM).  However, we still need to know whether you are in receipt of a benefit which would mean you qualify for ‘Free School Meals’ so that the school can claim Pupil Premium for your child.  Pupil Premium is additional funding which schools use to increase the support they are able to give to those children not making expected progress as well as to purchase new resources for the school.

Free school meals criteria

Children in England whose parents receive the following benefits are entitled to free school meals:

• 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 parents are 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 parents stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax (excluding any benefits)