Education - grants - free school meals

Free school meals are provided for children whose families are in receipt of certain means-tested social security benefits such as income support or income based job seeker's allowance.
Free school meals are offered to children of families who are in receipt of Income Support or Income based Job Seekers Allowance, support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Free School Meals are also available where a family is in receipt of Child Tax Credits with a total yearly income of less than £14,155. If you are in receipt of Working Tax Credit you are not entitled to free school meals.
If you are not sure, please use the details above to contact us. The Government does not allow us to recognise any other benefit other than those mentioned above.
If this is a first application for any child, the applicant should provide proof of Child Benefit (a photocopy of the Inland Revenue letter awarding Child Benefit and naming the child) or photocopies of birth certificates.

We cannot offer an award until we have received acceptable evidence of parental benefit, which should be one of the following:

A photocopy of your Inland Revenue Tax Credit award letter, which must be for the current year and include all four pages.

A photocopy of a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions or the Benefits Agency which must be less than 3 months old or be accompanied by a recent full bank statement;

A photocopy of a letter from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) or Social Services. This letter must be less than 3 months old, must show the name and address of all those receiving assistance, and must describe the assistance that is being provided.

Where the proof of benefit shows a different address to that given on the application form, the applicant must also provide a photocopy of their tenancy agreement.

Eligibility
Your child must be attending a state maintained school;

You must be in receipt of a qualifying benefit (Income Support or Income based Job Seekers Allowance, support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Free School Meals are also available where a family is in receipt of Child Tax Credits with a total yearly income of less than £15,575).

Your entitlement to assistance will be determined by the Local Authority where you child’s school is situated. However, if they do not undertake this service, and you are resident in the area of the London Borough of Enfield, you apply to this office for an assessment of your entitlement.

Required Customer Information
You need to take/send the application form to the Pupil Benefits office, together with proof of benefit.

If this is a first application for any child, the applicant should provide proof of Child Benefit (a photocopy of the Inland Revenue letter awarding Child Benefit and naming the child) or photocopies of birth certificates.

We cannot offer an award until we have received acceptable evidence of parental benefit, which should be one of the following:

A photocopy of your Inland Revenue Tax Credit award letter, which must be for the current year and include all four pages.
A photocopy of a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions or the Benefits Agency which must be less than 3 months old or be accompanied by a recent full bank statement;
A photocopy of a letter from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) or Social Services. This letter must be less than 3 months old, must show the name and address of all those receiving assistance, and must describe the assistance that is being provided.

Where the proof of benefit shows a different address to that given on the application form, the applicant must also provide a photocopy of their tenancy agreement.

Service Level Agreement and Turnaround
Producing a letter for new applicants and their schools confirming entitlement to free school meals within 5 working days of receiving an application, during school term time.

More information about this service

Contact Us

Frequently asked question

Address:
Pupil Benefits
P O Box 56
Civic Centre
Silver Street
Enfield
EN1 3XQ
Map

Telephone:
020 8379 5367

Fax:
020 8379 3380

Minicom:
020 8367 8701

Opening Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:30am through 4:30pm

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