Who is entitled to free school meals?
Your child or children may qualify for free school meals if you are able to meet the following criteria:
- You or your partner have a child for whom you receive child benefit and who is attending a school or college in Merthyr Tydfil.
And you and your partner are in receipt of the following:
- Income Support
- Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and your annual income does not exceed £16,190 (as assessed by Tax Credits)
- Guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit (not in work)
- Universal Credit (in work) where your award is based on annual earnings from your employment or self-employment and have been determined as less than £7,400.
Young people who receive Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals.
You can learn more about free school meals on the Welsh Assembly website.
You will be notified in writing or by email of the outcome of your application.
If you are eligible for free school meals, your child’s school will be notified so that they can update their records.
Free school meals are awarded for each child separately and not for the household. You will therefore need to complete a new application form if you have another child starting school for the first time.
You do not need to re-apply if your child moves to another school in the borough. When we are advised by your child’s new school that they are a pupil there then we will amend our records and inform them of your eligibility.
Please contact your Local Authority either through their website or by telephone for further information about how to apply.
School Essentials Grant
