Free school meal eligibility criteria

Children whose parents receive the following support payments are entitled to receive free school meals:

• Income Support (IS);
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA);
• An income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA);
• support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; or
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) that as of 6 April 2009 does not exceed £16,040.
• the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit.

Children who receive a qualifying benefit in their own right are also eligible to receive free school meals.