DO I QUALIFY TO CLAIM FREE SCHOOL MEALS?
Families who have children up to the age of 19 years in full-time education at Warwickshire maintained schools and nurseries may be entitled to claim free school meals, providing they receive a qualifying benefit.
The current criteria for claiming free school meals are as follows:-
- Family receives Income Support or Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance.
- Family receives the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit.
- Family receives Child Tax Credit and has an annual taxable income, as assessed by the Inland Revenue, not in excess of £16,040. Families who also receive an award of Working Tax Credit do not qualify to claim free school meals.
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
- Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related)
TEMPORARY QUALIFICATION FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS.
From 1st May 2009 where a parent has been entitled to Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after their employment ceases, or after they start to work less than 16 hours per week, they will be eligible to claim free school meals over that period.
We are unable to directly confirm this 4-week period of eligibility against central benefit records so we must ask parents to apply by completing a hard-copy application form and sending it to us with a copy of their Tax Credit Decision Notice, which will be issued immediately by HMRC to a claimant who has notified them that they have stopped working. Applications will not be accepted without this document and free school meals authorisation will not be granted prior to the date of application, or extended beyond the end date shown on the Tax Credit Decision Notice. In order to qualify for free school meals after that date the claimant will need to be in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits listed in the previous section, and evidence of this provided.
How can I apply? (Other than for temporary qualification)
You can:-
|  | |