Free School Meals

If your child qualifies and their school is in Trafford, you need to apply online. You need to contact the school yourself if it isn't listed.

If your child's school is outside Trafford, their free school meals will be dealt with by the local authority the school is in. Go to GOV.UK and enter the postcode of the school your child attends to find out how to get them.

Which children qualify for them? 

Your child may qualify if you have any of these incomes:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• the guaranteed part of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (as long as your annual gross income is £16,190 or less and  you don’t get Working Tax Credit)
• Working Tax Credit run-off after you come off Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit that you applied for on, or after, 1 April 2018. As long as your household income is less than £7,400 a year after tax, not including any benefits

Children who receive these benefits themselves instead of through a parent or guardian can also qualify for free school meals.

Your child may qualify if you are an asylum seeker.

Children who are younger than the compulsory age for starting school but in full-time education can also get free school meals.

How long can children get free school meals for? 

Children who are eligible for free school meals now will be eligible for them until either:

• they finish school or
• if on 31 March 2022 they are still in school, until they finish the phase of schooling they are in (primary or secondary) – whichever is sooner.

Infant free school meals in England 

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 can get free school meals whatever your income. If you do have one of the qualifying incomes (above) it will help the school if you tell them this so they can get extra funding.