Free School Meals

 

Your child will qualify for free school meals if you meet all the following criteria:
  • you or your partner receive Child Benefit (for the child you are applying for)
  • the child is in full-time education, under 19 years of age
  • the child attends a local authority school or sixth form (but not a sixth-form college). If your child attends nursery, attendance must be full time and your child must attend before and after lunch in a nursery run by Gateshead Council

In addition, you and your partner must receive one of the following benefits:

  • Income Support
  • Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA – IB)
  • Guarantee Pension Credit
  • Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA Income Related)
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (see section ‘Families with no recourse to public funds’ for information)
  • Universal Credit – with a net earned family income of less than £7,400

Receipt of one of the above benefits will be checked with the relevant government departments (HMRC, DWP and Home Office) – this may be done via the Eligibility Checking Service. By signing the declaration on the application form, you are giving your consent for us to check your eligibility through this service.

Applications can be made via Gateshead Council Free School Meals Team or by downloading this application form