Are you Eligible for Free School Meals?

If you have children in full-time education, you may be able to get free school meals for them.  To be eligible for free school meals the pupil must be attending a state-maintained school or receiving alternative education approved by Kent County Council and the pupil’s family must be in receipt of one of the following benefits.

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be £7,400 a year or less (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:

• younger than the compulsory age for starting school
• in full-time education

From the start of academic year 2026 to 2027, your child will qualify for free school meals if you get Universal Credit, regardless of household income.

If you do not qualify for most benefits (also known as having ‘no recourse to public funds’), your child may still be eligible for free school meals. Ask their school or local authority whether they’re eligible

apply for FREE SCHOOL MEALS online

Kent County Council have an online application service for Free School Meals.

The Advantages

• Parents will be able to establish eligibility for Free School Meals instantly online
• Removal of the need for you to fax and post applications back to Kent County Council
• Removes the stigma attached to applying for Free School Meals
• Enables applications to be made via mobile phone, tablet, PC, Internet enabled TV or Console
• The new system will provide up to date information about which children can be offered free school meals
• Reduces costs associated with administration (i.e. postage) and incorrect meal provision
• Removes need for reapplication whilst eligibility continues

How will this work?

Parents will have the opportunity to complete an eligibility assessment themselves to establish whether they are entitled to Free School Meals. If eligible they can complete an application for Free School Meals via http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals

Schools will be notified of any successful applications straight away via email, so that a Free School Meal can be provided the same day.