Does my child qualify for free school meals?
If you are in receipt of any of the following, your child may be eligible for free school meals:
- Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
- 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 guarantee 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 four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Children in care or children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Children in care or children with SEN do not automatically qualify for free schools meals. No discretionary services are offered to these children as free schools meals is a means tested scheme. The family will need to meet the eligibility criteria above.
If a child resides in a local authority care home they will
not qualify for free school meals. This is because government funding has already been allocated to fund their meals.
How do I apply?
Check your eligibility and apply for free school meals using our online form:
North Northamptonshire Council
North Northamptonshire Council covers the following areas:
- Kettering
- Corby
- East Northants
- Wellingborough
If your child attends a school based in one of the areas above:
Apply for free school meals - North NorthamptonshireWest Northamptonshire Council
West Northamptonshire Council covers the following areas:
- Daventry
- Northampton
- South Northants
If your child attends a school based in one of the areas above:
Apply for free school meals - West Northamptonshire
What happens next?
- Your claim will be sent to the free school meals team for authorisation.
- The school will be informed within 3 working days when authorisation has been confirmed. You will then need to find out from your school how to order and access the meals.
Please note, during September and October there is a longer wait for applications to be processed.
How much will the school receive for my child's meal?
- The school will receive £2.30 towards the cost of your child's meal.
What if my circumstances change?
You need to let us know if there is a change in circumstances which may affect your child receiving free school meals. Please contact the free school meal team if:
- you stop receiving an eligible benefit
- you change your address
Email freeschoolmeals.ncc@northnorthants.gov.uk