• 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 £16,190 from 1 April 2010) or
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999 or
• The Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit 
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance  

*Where a parent is entitled to Working Tax Credit during the four week period immediately after their employment ceases, or after they start work less 16 hours per week, their children are entitled to free school meals for that period.

Your child will be able to receive their free school meals from the date that the children's services directorate has proof of their eligibility.  We will then inform the school.

How to apply

You must complete an application form (see links below).  Paper forms are also available from Warrington children and young people's services or your local school.

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

Proof of eligiblity

Your eligibility to receive free school meals can now be checked online by the council - if you give us permission to do so by completing the appropriate part of the application form.

Alternatively you can provide the children's services directorate with proof that your child is eligible by providing the following documents:

Income Support and Income-based Job Seekers Allowance

• the most recent letter of entitlement which must not be more than six weeks old.       

Child Tax Credit

• 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 £16,190 from 1 April 2010   

Support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999

• vouchers as supplied by the Inland Revenue   

Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit

• Pension Credit Award Notice (M1000) - for the current tax year

Income Related Employment and Support Allowance

• the most recent letter of entitlement which must not be more than six weeks old

Your eligibility is reviewed periodically and the children's services directorate will send you a form if you are required to re-apply.

You must notify the children's services directorate if:

• you cease to be eligible to receive one of the benefits listed above
• your child changes school
• you change your address    

If you are eligible, please apply.

Contact us:
Children and Young People's Services
New Town House
Buttermarket Street
Warrington, WA1 2NJ

Tel: 01925 442938

Related documents:

• Free_school_meals-_Is_your_child_eligible_leaflet.pdf
• FORM-School_Meals_Revised_version_NOV_2011.pdf