Are you eligible to claim free school meals for your child(ren)?
Who qualifies?
To qualify for Free Schools Meals, the parent or carer of the child should be in receipt of one of the following qualifying benefits:
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Income Support (IS)
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Job Seekers' Allowance (Income-Based) and equal based Job Seekers Allowance
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Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA-IR) and equal based Employment and Support Allowance
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Child Tax Credit (CTC) with an annual income of less than £16,190
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Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
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Guarantee Element of Pension Credit (GPC)
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Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (IAA) Support
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Universal Credit - Your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get) as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods
If you are claiming Working Tax Credit or Contribution-Based Job Seeker's Allowance and/or Contribution-Based Employment and Support Allowance, you are NOT eligible for free school meals, regardless of what other benefits/credits are being claimed. However, you will be temporarily eligible to claim free school meals if you receive a Working Tax Credit run-on, which is the payment you may receive for a further four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.
To make sure that your child does not miss out on his/her entitlement, please complete the application for Free School Meals by going to the Cornwall Council website below:
Alternatively, please contact the Cornwall Council Free School Meals Team on 01872 323298 or email them at schoolmeals@cornwall.gov.uk
If you have any questions regarding how to apply for Free School Meals, please contact the school.