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 receive any of the following:

• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and the household income is not more that £15,575 
• the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit (from 30th April 2005)
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

How do you apply?

It's easy - either:

• Download an application form:
   Application form for free school meals (45kb)
   Application form for free school meals  (30kb)
  
• Ask at school.
  They should be able to give you a form to fill in
  
• Contact us
  Contact the Central Welfare Services, who will send you a form to fill in

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 Central Welfare Services.

Important

To be able to process your application you need to provide proof of which benefit you get. When you send in your form please also send us a copy of one of the following:

• The pages of your benefit book which say who you are and which benefit you get
• A recent letter from the Benefits Agency giving details of what you receive
• A full copy of the TC602 form you will receive if you get child tax credit
• Your Pension Credit M1000 Award Notice

Some people have their benefits paid straight into their bank accounts and so don't have a book and might not have a recent letter from the enefits agency. In this case please ask the Benefits Agency or Job Centre to stamp your application form in the place provided.

The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

If you are receiving support under Part VI of the Immigration and Aslum 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 us at:

Free School Meals
Central Welfare Service
Education Offices
Tipping Street
Stafford
ST16 2DH

Telephone any of the following:

Debbie Thom	01785 278928
Louise Goulbourne	01785 278999
Graham Ratcliffe	01785 278963

Last Modified: 10/06/2008 09:07:57
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