How to apply online for free school meals

If you have not been allocated a school place for your child yet, please wait for confirmation of this place before you apply for free school meals.

If your child is eligible for and has been registered to receive free school meals between 1 April 2018 and the end of the rollout of Universal Credits (which has been extended to March 2025), they will remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they are in at the end of Universal Credits rollout. This is regardless of any change to your circumstances. 

If your child is transferring from Primary to Secondary School, there is no need to reapply for Free School Meals and the school they attend will be informed (until March 2025)

If your child is attending a nursery school:

  • they must be in a maintained school nursery as a registered pupil at the school
  • your child must be in receipt of education before and after lunch on the same day
  • you must be in receipt of a qualifying benefit (as described below)
  • you should apply online by clicking the link below.

Apply now for free school meals

Note: You will not be able to apply over the phone because you need to provide an email address, password and sign the declaration stating that you have parental responsibility.

Your child will get free school meals if you receive any of the following:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit but no element of Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenues & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
  • If you are supported under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after your employment finishes or after you start to work fewer hours per week
  • Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 (£616.67 per month), as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods).

To check if your child is eligible, apply online for an immediate response or call 0345 606 6067 for advice.

If your child is not attending either a sixth form provision or Suffolk One Sixth Form College, please contact your post-16 provider directly to find out about any free school meal options that they may have.