Free School Meals

School pupils in full-time education and under the age of 19 are entitled to free school meals if their parents receive:

Income Support or
Income-based Job Seekers Allowance or
Child Tax Credit (but who are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and whose annual income is less than £15,575 from 1 April 2008) or
Support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999 or
The Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit

Your child will be able to receive their free school meals from the date that the Children’s Service Directorate has proof of their eligibility. We will then send you a slip to hand in at their school.

How to apply

You must complete an application form which is available from the Warrington Children’s Service Directorate, your local school or it can be downloaded here. (Acrobat Reader required - please click here for a free download).

Sixth form college and further education college students should contact their college direct.

Proof of eligiblity

Along with your application form, you must also provide the Children’s Services Directorate with proof that your child is eligible:

Income Support – Any one of these:

the most recent letter of entitlement which must not be more than six weeks old.
a free school meals application form stamped and dated by the Department for Work and Pensions (Job Centre Plus)

Income-based Job Seekers Allowance

a free school meals application form stamped and dated by the Department for Work and Pensions (Job Centre Plus)

Child Tax Credit – Either one of these:

a notice of assessment for the current tax year from the Inland Revenue indicating an award for Child Tax Credit but showing NO award for Working Tax Credit and showing an annual income of less than £15,575 from 1 April 2008
a free school meals application form stamped and dated by the Inland Revenue.

Support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999