Free school meals

Find out who can get free school meals and how to apply.

How to apply

If you receive any of the below benefits you can:

You can also ask your child's school for an application form. 

Benefits

You should only use this site to apply for free school meals if your child or children attend schools within Brighton & Hove and you are in receipt of one of the benefits listed below.

Your child might be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

  • 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
  • Universal Credit – if you apply after 1 April 2018, your household income must be less than £7400 per year

Children, who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, may also get free school meals.

Working Tax Credit

If you are in receipt of any Working Tax Credit you will not be eligible to apply for Free School Meals

Unsure if you are eligible for free school meals?

If I get? Do we get free meals?
Child Tax Credit
(Household income above £16,190) 		 No
Child Tax Credit
(Household income below £16,190) 		 Yes
Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit  No
Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit on a four week run on  Yes
Working Tax Credit
(Household income below £16,190)		 No
No Tax Credits but income is below £16,190 No - you need to be getting one of the benefits listed above

We can undertake an online check for you in complete confidence - you will need to tell us your National Insurance Number or your National Asylum Seeker Number (NASS), your date of birth and your surname (as it appears on your benefit letter)

Email Free School Meals or call the Free School Meals team 01273 293497.