Meal allowance

In order to be eligible for a meal allowance, learners aged 16-18 – or their parents – must be in receipt of one of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income-Related Employment Support Allowance
• Guaranteed Pension Credit
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit where total annual income (as assessed by HMRC) is less than £16,190
• Working Tax Credit 'run-on'
• Working Tax Credit 'run-on' 
• Universal Credit where annual net earnings from employment or self-employment are £7,400 or less (as assessed by the Department for Works and Pensions)

Pupils who receive Income Support or Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance or Income-Related Employment Support Allowance in their own right are also eligible to receive free school meals.

You will not qualify for Free School Meals if you are in receipt of Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit and your annual net income from employed or self-employed earnings is over £7,400.

Details on how to access the meal allowance will be provided to eligible learners upon approval of their application. Learners aged 19+ may be eligible for a meal allowance in circumstances of extreme hardship – please speak to Student Services if you think this applies to you.