School meals
If you have a child attending a school or 6th form and you receive certain benefits, you may be entitled to claim free school meals. Plymouth City Council is able to check your eligibility online, therefore minimising the need to provide proof of your entitlement.
It is of great benefit for your child's school if you are entitled to free school meals as they receive extra school funding for all children who qualify. Please contact your child's school for details of their Pupil Premium Policy.
Plymouth City Council has a five day turnaround for all free school meals applications and will advise your child's school of the date the free school meals start.
Qualifying benefits
If you are in receipt of the following support payments, your child may be entitled to receive free school meals:
- 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 (IS)
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (IRESA)
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Child Tax Credit (provided you're not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, that does not exceed £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on (the payment someone receives for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Children who receive a qualifying benefit in their own right are also allowed to receive free school meals.
How to apply for free school meals
After you submit the completed form, the school are asked to confirm that your child is in attendance, we check for eligibility using a government on-line checking system and the result of this check is emailed to you and your child's school.
For more information about free school meals please email fsm@plymouth.gov.uk or call 01752 307410.
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