Free School Meals and Clothing Grants

Free school meals:

All P1-P5 children are eligible for free school meals. There is no need to complete any paperwork for this benefit. Information regarding the roll out of free school meals to the remaining primary school year groups (P6-P7) will be provided in 2022.

Children who are eligible for free school meals will be credited with a daily allowance within the cashless catering system used in primary schools and in secondary school the child's NEC card will be credited with a daily allowance.

Clothing grant:

A discretionary grant towards the costs of school clothing and footwear can be claimed from P1. The grant is a standard amount per child per year, but the amount may vary year to year. Only one clothing grant claim can be made per child for each year (1 April-31 March).

You can make a claim for free school meals or a clothing grant if you are receiving any of the following benefits:

• Income Support • Income-based Job Seekers' Allowance • Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance • Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit, and your annual income, as assessed by HMRC, is below £16,105, • Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit with an income below the threshold for receipt of maximum Working Tax Credit, currently set by the Government at £7,500 • Support under Part VI - Immigration & Asylum Act 1999 • Universal Credit with a monthly earned income of not more than £625

If you are aged 16-18 years old, you may make a claim for free school meals and clothing grants, in your own right, if you receive any of the benefits that make you eligible.