Free School Meals
Before Applying
Can I apply for free school meals if my child attends a Nursery School?
Yes, if your child is in full-time nursery school/nursery unit/reception class/playgroup.
Children attending part-time nursery school/nursery unit/reception class/playgroup are not eligible for free school meals.
Can I apply for free school meals if I have a fostered child or a child in Kinship Care living with me and I receive an allowance?
No. If you or your household received a Foster Care or Kinship Allowance for a child you are not eligible to make application for free school meals for that child.
Can I apply for free school meals if my child is at an EOTAS Learning Centre or Educational Guidance Centre?
Yes. If your child is in EOTAS all year and not attending school enter the EOTAS centre on the application. If your child will spend part year at EOTAS and the rest at school enter your child’s main registered school on the application and e-mail mealsanduniform@eani.org.uk or telephone 028 9047 0233 to inform us of the EOTAS/Educational Guidance Centre where your child is attending.
Can I apply for free school meals if my child attends a full-time course at a FE College?
Yes, only if otherwise eligible and your child has not reached the age of 18 on or before 31 July and is not attending a paid training course.
Should I apply if my child is waiting for results and is unsure of what school he/she will attend in September?
Yes, your application should include all of your children for whom you want to apply for funding. Enter the name of the school your child waiting for results is most likely to attend on the application and inform the Meals and Uniform Section by phone or in writing if this information changes. If you do not include all of your children on the application, their support may be delayed.
Can I apply for free school meals if my child attends full-time at an Independent School?
Yes, you can apply for free school meals if your child attends full-time at an Independent School. You can also now apply for a uniform allowance.
I receive Universal Credit but my income varies from month to month. How will you calculate my income to determine if I am eligible for Free School Meals for 2026/27?
Free School Meals and Uniform staff will use the household take home pay on a claimant’s most recent, monthly Universal Credit Claimant Statement x 12. This is because claimants do not receive a yearly Universal Credit Claimant Statement (showing 12 months income).
If your income varies each month and the take home pay shown on your most recent monthly Universal Credit Claimant Statement does not show your typical monthly income, you can apply again after receiving future Statements which show a lower take-home pay. After you are entitled it will be your responsibility to inform us if future statements show a monthly income which is higher than £1325 per month (£1325 x 12 = £15,900) as this means you would no longer be eligible for Free School Meals. We advise that you only inform us of any changes if two monthly statements in a row show a take home pay of above this amount.
Applying for Free School Meals
English is not my first language and I find it difficult to know what I have to do.
Please see our accessibility information to find out more about the Recite Me tool and how to use it.
I am not very good with computers. Can I get any help with completing the application?
Please telephone our Helpdesk and one of our trained staff will be able to help you.
I am finding it difficult to get evidence that I am in receipt of Benefits / Universal Credit. Can anyone help me with this?
If you have not been able to obtain the Proof of Benefit letter or do not understand how to download evidence of your Universal Credit Claimant Statement you can go to your local Jobs and Benefits office (JBo) Digital Hub and ask for help. You may need to ring to make an appointment.
Staff there will enable you to obtain the correct evidence needed to support your application and assist you to make your application for Free School Meals and Uniform Allowance.
What are my responsibilities as a Parent/Guardian?
You must:
- Submit a FSMU application for all children via EA Connect including proof of your qualifying benefit. The child(ren) applied for must be in your actual custody, included in the payments for Child Benefit or Universal Credit and the name(s) must be entered as they appear on the Birth Certificate unless they have been legally changed;
- Provide the correct bank/building society details of the person making the application and ensure that the account can accept payment by BACS;
- Check your e-mail inbox plus your spam/junk mail folders for replies from the Meals and Uniform Section as this is how we will inform you if your application has been approved/rejected or if you need to do anything further; and
- Inform the Meals and Uniform Section immediately of any changes in family circumstances ie if you no longer have responsibility for a child; if a child has left school/did not commence school; if you have moved house or if your benefit entitlement has changed/stopped as this may affect your claim.
I have received an email telling me that my application was submitted but I don’t know whether my application has been successful. What should I do?
You should log back into your account on EA Connect and open the Free Meals and Uniform tab. Scroll down to ‘My Applications’ where you can see the application status. You can also avail of the ‘View More’ button if you need further details.
We aim to process applications within 4 weeks however in busy periods of June to October applications can take up to 5 weeks to be processed. If you do not receive a decision about your application after 4 weeks you should e-mail the Free School Meals and Uniform Helpdesk on mealsanduniform@eani.org.uk giving as much information as you can i.e. the name under which you applied, your National Insurance Number and the submission number you received when your application was acknowledged.
Please state clearly in your email that you applied more than 4 weeks ago
What happens/how will I know if my application is successful?
If your application is successful you will be sent an e-mail confirming this. You can log into your EA Connect account and open the Free Meals and Uniform tab. Scroll down to ‘My Applications’ and you will be able to see the start date for free school meals. The Education Authority will inform schools each week of children eligible for Free School Meals.
What happens/how will I know if my application is not successful?
If your application is not approved you will be sent an email. You can log into your EA Connect account and open the Free Meals and Uniform tab. Scroll down to ‘My Applications’ to view details why and read what you need to send us if anything further is required. If you are asked, you must resubmit your application and attach the correct information to the application. Check your spam/junk mail regularly in case the email was delivered there. It is your responsibility to resubmit your application promptly with the correct information or your child/children may not have support in place for the start of the school year.
Uniform Allowances
Before Applying
Can I apply for a uniform allowance if my child attends a nursery school?
If your child is in full-time or part-time nursery school/nursery unit/Playgroup or reception class, he/she will not be eligible for a uniform allowance.
Can I apply for support with uniforms if I have a fostered child or a child in Kinship Care living with me and I receive an allowance?
No. If you or your household received a Foster Care or Kinship Allowance for a child you are not eligible to make application for a uniform allowance for that child.
Can I apply for a uniform allowance if my child is at an EOTAS Learning Centre or Educational Guidance Centre?
Yes. If your child is required to wear a uniform and is in EOTAS all year and not attending school enter the EOTAS centre on the application. If your child will spend part year at EOTAS and the rest at school enter your child’s main registered school on the application and e-mail mealsanduniform@eani.org.uk or telephone 02890 470233 to inform us of the EOTAS/Educational Guidance Centre where your child is attending.
Can I apply for a uniform allowance if my child attends a full-time course at a FE College?
A uniform allowance is not paid for students at FE Colleges. If the full-time course includes Physical Education an allowance can be paid for PE.
Should I apply if my child is waiting for results and is unsure of what school he/she will attend in September?
Yes, your application should include all of your children for whom you want to apply for funding. Enter the name of the school your child waiting for results is most likely to attend on the application and inform the Meals and Uniform Section by phone or in writing if this information changes. If you do not include all of your children on the application, their support may be delayed.
Can I apply for a uniform allowance if my child attends full-time at an Independent School?
Yes, your child will now be eligible for a uniform allowance. You can also apply for free school meals if your child attends full-time at an Independent School.
I receive Universal Credit but my income varies from month to month. How will you calculate my income to determine if I am eligible for a uniform allowance for 2026/27?
Free School Meals and Uniform staff will use the household take home pay on a claimant’s most recent, monthly Universal Credit Claimant Statement x 12. This is because claimants do not receive a yearly Universal Credit Claimant Statement(showing 12 months income).
If your income varies each month and the take home pay shown on your most recent monthly Universal Credit Claimant Statement does not show your typical monthly income, you can apply again after receiving future Statements which show a lower take-home pay. After you are entitled it will be your responsibility to inform us if future statements show a monthly income which is higher than £1325 per month (£1325 x 12 = £15,900) as this means you would no longer be eligible for Free School Meals. We advise that you only inform us of any changes if two monthly statements in a row show a take home pay of above this amount.
Applying for a Uniform Allowance
English is not my first language and I find it difficult to know what I have to do.
Please see our accessibility information to find out more about the Recite Me tool and how to use it.
I am not very good with computers. Can I get any help with completing the application?
Please telephone our Helpdesk and one of our trained staff will be able to help you.
I am finding it difficult to get evidence that I am in receipt of Benefits / Universal Credit. Can anyone help me with this?
If you have not been able to obtain the Proof of Benefit letter or do not understand how to download evidence of your Universal Credit Claimant Statement you can go to your local Jobs and Benefits office (JBo) Digital Hub and ask for help. You may need to make an appointment.
Staff there will enable you to obtain the correct evidence needed to support your application and assist you to make your application for Free School Meals and Uniform Allowance.
What are my responsibilities as a Parent/Guardian?
You must:
- Submit a FSMU application for all children via EA Connect including proof of your qualifying benefit. The child(ren) applied for must be in your actual custody, included in the payments for Child Benefit or Universal Credit and the name(s) must be entered as they appear on the Birth Certificate unless they have been legally changed;
- Provide the correct bank/building society details of the person making the application and ensure that the account can accept payment by BACS;
- Check your e-mail inbox plus your spam/junk mail folders for replies from the Meals and Uniform Section as this is how we will inform you if your application has been approved/rejected or if you need to do anything further; and
- Inform the Meals and Uniform Section immediately of any changes in family circumstances ie if you no longer have responsibility for a child; if a child has left school/did not commence school; if you have moved house or if your benefit entitlement has changed/stopped as this may affect your claim.
I have received an email telling me that my application was submitted but I don’t know whether my application has been successful. What should I do?
You should log back into your account on EA Connect and open the Free Meals and Uniform tab. Scroll down to ‘My Applications’ where you can see the application status. You can also avail of the ‘View More’ button if you need further details.
We aim to process applications within 4 weeks however in busy periods of June to October applications can take up to 5 weeks to be processed. If you do not receive a decision about your application after 4 weeks you should e-mail the Free School Meals and Uniform Helpdesk on mealsanduniform@eani.org.uk giving as much information as you can i.e. the name under which you applied, your National Insurance Number and the submission number you received when your application was acknowledged.
Please state clearly in your email that you applied more than 4 weeks ago.
What happens/how will I know if my application is successful?
If your application is successful you will be sent an e-mail confirming this.
What happens/how will I know if my application is not successful?
If your application is not approved you will be sent an email. You can log into your EA Connect account and open the Free Meals and Uniform tab. Scroll down to view details why under ‘My Applications’ and read what you need to send us if anything further is required. If you are asked, you must resubmit your application and attach the correct information to the application. Check your spam/junk mail regularly in case the email was delivered there. It is your responsibility to resubmit your application promptly with the correct information or your child/children may not have support in place for the start of the school year.
General Questions about Free School Meals and Uniform Allowances
Can free school meals be backdated?
No. The Meals and Uniform Section requires parents to submit an application for free school meals in each school year. A free school meal (not money) is available directly to the child on each school day when that child is physically present at school within the relevant school year once the child has been awarded free school meals entitlement by the EA. There is no financial assistance to parents either before entitlement is awarded or in lieu of free school meals. Therefore no back payments can be made.
Can school uniform allowance be backdated?
No. The Meals and Uniform Section requires parents to submit an application for uniform in each school year and a uniform allowance will only be awarded after the claim for the relevant school year has been assessed. The Meals and Uniform Section does not accept or process back-dated claims for uniform allowances.
What are the current Uniform Allowance rates?
| Total | Uniform | PE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary School pupils (born on or before 1 July 2022) | £42.90 | ||
| Secondary School and Special School pupils | |||
| Under 15 years of age on 1 August 2026 | £87.60 | £61.20 | £26.40 |
| 15 years of age or over on 1 August 2026 | £93.60 | £67.20 | £26.40 |
| Pupils at FE Colleges who are not in receipt of any financial support which includes provision for clothing suitable for Physical Education and where Physical Education is part of their course. | £26.40 |
When will I receive my uniform allowance?
Uniform allowances payments are made from July onwards. If you entered the correct bank/building society details on the application, check your account for payment, at least ten days after you have received approval confirmation . If no bank/building society details were entered, you will be sent a cheque within the same time frame. If you gave incorrect account details, payment will be delayed.
For those who receive cheques and are not able to lodge them to a bank account, cheques can only be cashed in Danske Bank branches when presented at the counter with official photographic proof of identification.
Technical support when applying online
How do I apply on EA Connect for Free School Meals & Uniform Grant?
- Go to EA Connect.
- If you already have an EA Connect account you do not need to register again. Simply log in using your email address and password and click on ‘Free Meals & Uniform’ and begin an application.
- You must go through the Eligibility Checker first to see if you will be eligible to apply.
- If you do not have an EA Connect account, Click ‘Register’ and follow the on-screen instructions to create an account.
- You will receive an email to verify your account. Click the link in the email.
- Log in and click on Free School Meals & Uniform Grant to apply.
- Make sure that you click the ‘Submit’ button so that your application is sent to us.
I have forgotten my password what can I do?
You can request to reset your password on the login screen by clicking “Forgot Password” and entering the email address you used to register the account. Follow the instructions on the email you will receive to complete the process. The password reset will link will expire after 30 minutes. Please note, an automated email will only be generated if the email address is registered on EA Connect. Please check in your ‘spam’ or ‘junk’ folders if you do not receive the email. Please also ensure that your email inbox is not full – i.e. that you are still receiving emails from other email addresses.
Contact the Digital Helpdesk on digital@eani.org.uk if no email is received.
What should I do if I have registered on EA Connect but have not received a verification email?
Check for an email from the Education Authority, which is sent automatically when you register, usually within a few minutes. However, it may take longer in peak periods. Please check in your ‘spam’ or ‘junk’ folders. If you are unable to find it, or have not received it within 30 minutes, please contact the Digital Helpdesk on digital@eani.org.uk for assistance.
When searching for my address during registration, I cannot find it on the drop-down menu, what should I do?
If your address hasn’t been found after you search using your postcode, you will need to manually enter your address in the fields provided.
How do I change my email address/personal details/contact details?
Your information can be changed at any time by logging into your EA Connect parent account and selecting ‘My Information’ tab. Amend/change any details within this window and select ‘Update’.
If you change your email address here, you will need to complete the verification process before you can log into your account with your new email address. You will receive a verification email with a link to verify your account. Once you have verified your account, you can log back in to EA Connect.
Please check in your ‘spam’ or ‘junk’ folders for the verification email. If you are unable to find it, or have not received it within 30 minutes, please contact the Digital Helpdesk on digital@eani.org.uk for assistance.
What are the mandatory fields in the application?
The fields marked with a red asterisk * implies that this is required information and must be answered before you can submit the application.
I cannot find my child’s school on the application form. What should I do?
Ensure that you have selected the correct school or college type according to your child’s age in the box above where you enter the school name.
Search for a key word in the school name and. For example, for St Patrick’s PS Moneymore, you could search under ‘Moneymore’ or ‘Patrick’
On some devices, the drop-down list with school names will only appear if you click on ‘space’ after you key part of the school name. Please click ‘space’ after the school name.
In case you know the school under a different name than used by us, you can check the Search Schools function to verify the school’s proper name on the dropdown list.
I am having difficulty uploading my supporting documents, what should I do?
- I cannot access the files or photos on my device – Check the permissions setting on the browser you are using. This varies on different devices. On an Android device go to your device Settings > Apps > click on the internet browser app you are using (Chrome or Microsoft Edge) > Permissions > Camera (and Files and Media) > Allow only while using the app. You can go back through this sequence to turn off permissions when you have submitted the required documents.
- Unable to select a saved document – Check that the document is saved on your device correctly. Check that the document has a suitable extension (Supported file types are pdf, jpeg, img, doc, docx, png, txt, rtf, odt, ppt, pptx, odp, xls, xlsx, ods, heic). If the problem persists, contact digital@eani.org.uk
- Document fails to upload – Ensure that your wi-fi connection is stable. Check that the document has the correct extension and try saving as a document with the appropriate extension. If using a device with the ability to take a photo, try taking a photo of the paper document and submitting this. If the problem persists, contact the Free School Meals and Uniform Helpdesk Telephone 028 9041 8044 or email digital@eani.org.uk
- Obtaining the correct photos from a camera roll – You need to upload each photo, one at a time. Check each photo you upload before submitting the application to ensure that you have uploaded all evidence that is required and that you have not uploaded multiple copies of the same photo.
What should I do if I have uploaded an incorrect document?
Unsubmitted Application: If you are at the Documents Upload section of the application, click the down arrow to the right of the document you wish to delete and click ‘Delete’ Click ‘Yes’ to confirm deletion. You may then click on ‘Add Document’ to upload an alternative document, if required.
Submitted Application: If you have already completed and submitted your application you will need to contact mealsanduniform@eani.org.uk for assistance. They will mark the application as ‘Returned’. Once ‘Returned’ you will be able to log back into EA Connect, select Free Meals and Uniform and scroll down to ‘My Applications’. Open the application and select ‘Edit’ from the top right-hand corner. You can then delete and add the documents by using the ‘Delete’ button or the ‘+ Add Document’ option to upload an alternative document if required.
I can’t add all of my children on my application. What can I do?
From the Free Meals and Uniform tab, scroll down to the section, ‘My Child(ren)’. Select ‘Add child’ button and complete for each child. You must add all of your children here first before you can add them again to the FSMU application.
When completing the FSMU application, at section ‘Add your children’, select the ‘Add Child’ button and a pop-up will display showing the children you have already added. If any children are not displaying, please add by following the steps above.
You need to click on ‘Add child’ for each child and complete their details on the next window. This process must be repeated for each child.
Do not submit your application until you have added all your children, including those who will be starting full time Nursery or school in September or those where you are not sure if they will return to school or may change school.
What If I need to make changes after submitting my application?
You should contact the Free School Meals and Uniform Service Helpdesk on 028 9047 0233 or email mealsanduniforms@eani.org.uk
Pease include your full name, National Insurance number and Application ID (if applicable) in the body of your email in order for us to assist with your query.
Where can I get help?
You can contact the Free School Meals and Uniform Service Monday to Friday 9am - 4.00pm by:
Telephone: 028 9047 0233
Email: mealsanduniform@eani.org.uk