Free School Meals
Check if you can apply
Children can get free school meals, if their parents or guardians get:
- Universal Credit - your net earned income must be less than £7,400
- Income Support
- Job Seeker's Allowance (income based)
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
- Support payments under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Note: You can get free school meals at 16-18 years old, if:
- you are still at school, and
- you get Income Support or income based Jobseeker's Allowance yourself
You must tell us if you have any changes that affect the above income. It can also affect your entitlement to Free School Meals.
Important: If your child receives Free School Meals, the award will continue until July 2026. This applies regardless of any changes to your income.
Changes for 2026 to 2027
From September 2026, all children can get Free School Meals, if:
- they attend an eligible school, and
- their household gets Universal Credit.
There will be two types of Free School Meals based on benefits:
Targeted
This is the same as now. It applies to pupils from households on Universal Credit with annual earnings of £7,400 or less. As well as Free School Meals, these pupils will still bring pupil premium and other disadvantage funding to their school.
Expanded
This is a new category. It is for pupils whose households get Universal Credit but earn more than £7,400 a year. These pupils will be entitled to Free School Meals only.
How to apply
You can apply online:
If you qualify, you will be told straight away.
You cannot apply online if:
- your child goes to a school outside the Bradford district (you must apply to that local authority instead)
- your child goes to one of the following:
- Appleton Academy
- Bradford Academy
- Co-op Academy Parkland
- Oasis Academy
- St John’s CofE Primary
In these cases, contact the school to apply.
If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2
All children in these year groups get Free School Meals.
You should still apply if you receive a qualifying benefit. This can help you get extra support, such as:
- help with school trips
- help with travel costs
- help with school uniforms
- support with music lessons
Do children have to take the meal?
No, your child does not have to take a school meal.