Who is eligible
To qualify for free school meals families must be receiving one of these:
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Income Based Employment Support Allowance
- Support under Section VI of the Asylum Act 1999
- Guarantee Element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, without any entitlement to Working Tax Credit, and with an annual income below £15,575.
Lewisham has no discretion in providing this benefit and works strictly to government legislation. Families must apply every year to ensure continued support.
If your children attend schools outside of Lewisham, you need to apply to the borough the schools are in. For independent schools, please apply directly to the school.
How to apply
You will need to supply proof of Child Benefit with your application.
To apply, you can:
When to apply
Free school meals cannot be backdated, so you should apply as soon as your children require free meals.