Free School Meals
If you qualify for free school meals then we will provide your child with a free meal up to the value of £2.45 each day.
Your child will be eligible for free school meals if you (or your partner) are in receipt of any of the following:
- Universal Credit and net earnings are no more than £7,500 per year (£616.67 in your last assessment period, £1,233.34 over last two assessment periods or £1,850 over last three assessment periods)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income, as assessed by HMRC, of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit 'run on' - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.
Once eligible, your child will continue to receive free school meals in primary or secondary school until they finished their current phase of education i.e. primary (Year 6) or secondary (Year 11).
From 1 April 2025, if your child moves between primary and secondary school you will need to reapply for free school meals.
You can apply for free school meals through St Helens Council using the following link: