Free School Meals are a statutory benefit. Entitlement to Free School Meals is processed as part of Housing Benefit/Council Tax Support claims by the Benefits Service. It is also important to highlight that for lower income families this does not just entitle you to lunches but may also allow you to access additional financial support.

The number of pupils in our school who are eligible for free school meals has a direct impact on school funding. The money that we receive from the government in our annual budget is directly linked to the number of free school meal places we have.

Is my child eligible for free school meals?

Do you or your partner receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (as long as you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and you do not get more than £16,190 a year)
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Universal Credit (with annual earned income of no more than £7,400 after tax and not including any benefits you get)

If you have answered ‘yes’ for any of the above you should register for Free School Meals (FSM) unless you have already applied.

It only takes 5 minutes to apply and in most cases they can tell you straight away if your child can get free school meals at school.

Please register either online: Free school meals Hertfordshire County Council or phone: 0300 1234048.

Please have your National Insurance number or Home Office number to hand when you apply.