Free School Meals

Parents and carers who receive certain benefits may be eligible for either Pupil Premium funding or Free School Meals.

Milton Keynes Council does not offer an eligibility checking service; to make a claim, please contact your child’s school.
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children receive free school meals at no cost to you.  This is a universal entitlement for all infant aged children.  By applying for free school meals for children in these year groups, parents receiving one of the welfare benefits listed below will be eligible for Pupil Premium funding.  This is extra money for the school, provided by government, to pay for targeted support for learning.
Year 3 and above children receive free school meals if the parent/carer is receiving one of the welfare benefits listed below.
If your child is eligible for free school meals, they'll remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they're in on 31 March 2022.
Who is eligible?

You must be in receipt of one of the below benefits to be eligible for free school meals for your child/children.

  • Income Support
  • Employment & Support Allowance – Income related
  • Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (not Contribution Based JSA)
  • Child Tax Credit only (with a combined family income of less than £16,190 per annum as assessed by HM Revenues & Customs) Please note, anyone receiving Working Tax Credit, regardless of income, will not qualify for free school meals.
  • Working Tax Credit run-on - paid four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you receive)
  • National Asylum Seekers Support (NASS)
  • Guaranteed Element of Pension Tax Credit
If your child is eligible for free school meals, they’ll remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they’re in on 31 March 2022.

Please contact your child's school for details of how to apply.

Last Updated: 19 September 2019