Free school meals

Who is eligible

Free School Meals can be awarded to children who attend a state maintained school on a full time basis. You can contact us if your child is attending a school in Enfield.

In order to be eligible the parent/carer should be in receipt of one of the following:

• Income Support
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance (IR)
• Assisted as an Asylum Seeker under part VI of the Immigration Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit only, and have an annual income of less than
  £16,190 (this figure is updated each year from 6th April)
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit. 

Please note that if you are in receipt of Working Tax Credits you will not be entitled to free school meals for your child/children unless your entitlement to Working Tax Credit is being paid to you in the four-week period after your employment has ceased or you have started to work less than 16 hours per week.  If this is the case then a free school meal can be provided for that four-week period once you provide your Tax Credit Decision Notice from HMRC.

Who Do You Apply To?

You should make an application to the Council in whose area the child's/children's school is situated.

How to Apply.

You will need to complete an application form in black ink and using block capitals.  You should ensure that you have signed the form and then post it straight to Pupil Benefits Service, PO Box 56 , Civic Centre, Silver Street , Enfield , EN1 3XQ . Unfortunately any forms that are not signed will be returned and will lead to a delay in the free school meal being given.  Forms can be obtained from the school, the Pupil Benefits Service or via the Enfield Council Website.

Is Evidence of Benefit Entitlement Required?

You do not need to provide evidence of your benefit when you submit your form.  We will check your entitlement to a free school meal using the Department for Education's Eligibility Checking Service (ECS).  You must ensure therefore, that all the details that you give on the form are accurate and clearly written. Occasionally we might write to you to request certain evidence.

Please note that we are under a duty to protect public funds. Information provided may therefore be used for the prevention and detection of fraud, or shared with other bodies that are responsible for auditing or administering public funds if this is required by law.

For more information about Free School Meals please contact 020 8379 5367

Address:

Pupil Benefits

PO Box 56                                                                                                 Civic Centre                                                                                                                 Silver Street                                                                                           Enfield                                                                                                        EN1 3XQ

Tel: 020 8379 5367

Fax: 020 8379 3380

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Opening hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm