Check if your children can get free school meals
Here you can:
- find out if your children can get free school meals by entering key information
- send the decision on to your children’s school, college, nursery or childcare setting
It should take about 5 minutes to complete.
What you'll need
While using this service, you will need to:
- provide a National Insurance number or asylum support reference number (previously NASS reference number)
- create or sign in to a GOV.UK One Login account
- tell us details about any children you want to get free school meals, including the name of their school
Criteria for free school meals
Children in compulsory education may be able to get free school meals if you, or they, get any of these benefits:
- Universal Credit - your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
- 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 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 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Younger children aged 4 to 6 are always entitled to free school meals.
However, it's still important to apply for free school meals even if you know your child will get them. Schools receive extra funding based on the number of children they record as entitled.
Further guidance and other ways to apply
If you need further support, check the more detailed guidance for parents and guardians.
If you cannot apply online, you can fill in the 'Free school meals entitlement checker' form and give it to your children's school.