Free school meals

Your child will automatically get free school meals if they’re in a government-funded school in Waltham Forest and in: 

• reception class
• year 1
• year 2 

Children in year 3 and above (including young people aged 16 to 18 in years 12 and 13) are entitled to free school meals if you receive any of the following welfare benefits: 

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 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 get) 

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can get free school meals. 

Your child may also be entitled to free school meals if you have no recourse to public funds. 

We will contact you if we think you are entitled to free school meals. 

You should apply if your child attends a school in Waltham Forest and you are not receiving free school meals, but believe you should.

You can also apply if you are not sure if you are entitled to free school meals.