Free School Meals
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. School meals are a good way to make sure that your child eats well at lunchtime. By claiming free school meals you save yourself time and money.
Even if you don't want your children to have the meals, claiming them helps their school. The more eligible parents who claim meals, the more funding the school receives.
Who can get Free School Meals?
You can claim free school meals for your children if you are eligible for or in receipt of any of the following:
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Income Support
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Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
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Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
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Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and the household income is not more that £16,190. Please note anyone receiving Working Tax Credit, regardless of Income, will not qualify
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the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit (from 30th April 2005)
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Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Please note that foster carers of legally defined looked after children cannot claim free school meals for children in their foster care.
How do you apply?
It's easy - either:
Free school meals application form PDF version| (272 kb)
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Ask at school - they should be able to give you a form to fill in
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Contact us - we will then send you a form
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
Return the completed form to school, or to the address below.
Important
We don't always need to see proof of which benefit you are on in order to process your application. We can now check to see if you are entitled by using the National Free School Meals Eligibility Checking Service.
So that we can use this service, and process your claim as quickly as possible you must make sure that you include your National Insurance number and own date of birth on the form. Note: by signing the form the you are agreeing to allow us to check this service.
The completed form should be sent to:
Free School Meals
Staffordshire County Council
Tipping Street
Stafford
ST16 2DH
If our check shows that you are not entitled to claim Free School Meals we will 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.
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.
If you would like to apply for free school meals please contact us at the address above or telephone either Louise Goulbourne - 01785 278928 or Debbie Witts 01785 278966 or email freeschoolmeals@staffordshire.gov.uk|
Income Assessed Transport
If your child is of secondary school age, and you are claiming free school meals or are in receipt of the maximum level of Working Tax Credit you may be able to get help with the cost of school transport. More information and guidance on how to apply can be found in the County Council's School Transport Policy|.
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