Apply for Free School Meals / Uniform Grants

Free School Meals / Uniform Grants Application information and process.

Who is eligible?

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) 

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) can apply if your son or daughter is in full-time education and if you are in receipt of one of the following benefits:-    

  • Income Support;     

  • Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance;     

  • Income Related Employment and Support Allowance; 

  • Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit;    

  • Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit with an annual taxable income of £16,190 or less; 

  • Universal Credit and have net household earnings not exceeding £15,000 per year. 

Or: 

  • if you are an Asylum Seeker supported by the Home Office Asylum Support Assessment Team (ASAT); or     

  • if your child has a statement of special educational needs and is designated to require a special diet. 

Student(s) 

Student(s) can apply: 

  • if the course you are studying is a full-time course, and 

  • you are receiving benefit in your own name. 

What supporting documentation is required?

When applying, you will be asked to upload proof that you are receiving a qualifying benefit and this must include all pages of the relevant benefit: 

  • Tax Credits Award Notice; 

  • Your most recent Universal Credit Claimant Statement; or  

  • Proof of Benefit letter (if you are in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Related Employment and Support Allowance or the Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit). 

For more information see our Frequently Asked Questions and Videos and Guidance sections. 

How to Apply

  1. You will need your National Insurance Number; your childrens’ names, dates of births and schools they will be attending; your address, email and telephone number; your bank or building society account number and sort code. 
  2. You must register your email address and create an account for the 2024/25 school year before an application can be submitted even if you received Free School Meals and Uniform Allowance in the 2023/24 school year.  Please check your details carefully before you submit. 
  3. The application must be made by the person receiving benefits who is named on the Proof of Benefit Letter / Tax Credits Award Notice / Universal Credit Claimant Statement
  4. Please include in your application all children for whom you have parental responsibility and who will be attending full time at school or Regional/FE College as you will be unable to amend later.
  5. We will review the information provided and will aim to inform you of our decision within 4 weeks, however in the peak processing period of June to September this can take up to 5 weeks. 
  6. If you have not submitted the correct information, we will email you. Please check your email junk or spam folder. 

Special Diet

Children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs (Stage 3) who require a medically prescribed special diet may be eligible for Free School Meals if their parent/carer is not eligible to apply for support under one of the qualifying benefits listed below:

  • Income Support
  • Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit and/or Working Tax Credit (with annual taxable income of £16,190 or less)
  • Universal Credit (with annual net household earnings of £15,000 or less)

All new and existing parents/carers should apply on EA Connect.

Important: please only complete one application - either the standard EA Connect application if you qualify under one of the benefits listed above, or the Special Diet application if you do not.

The EA Free School Meals and Uniform Section will advise both you and the school regarding your child’s entitlement to free school meals.  If your free school meals (Special Diet) application is successful you should contact the school to make the necessary arrangements.

Additional Support Resources

Our Frequently Asked Questions section details further information on eligibility, applying and technical support.

We have also produced a Videos and Guidance relating to the application process and document upload.

Contact Details

If additional information is required or any difficulty is experienced, parents can contact the Meals and Uniform Service.

Contact Monday – Friday 9am – 4.00pm by:

Telephone: 028 9041 8044

Email: [email protected]

Last updated: 17/10/2024