Educational awards and benefits - free school
meals
Free School Meals(FSM) are not provided
automatically, they are available to people who are classed as
unemployed and receiving a qualifying benefit.
The parent, guardian or student needs to
complete an application and provide up-to-date proof of benefit
from the time their benefit begins. An application cannot be
made retrospectively, the FSM process is a set criteria and there
is no appeals process.
Children who receive Income Support(IS) or
Income Based Jobseekers Allowance(IBJSA) in their own right are
also entitled to claim free meals under the same application
process.
If a child attends school or the parent
/guardian resides in Northumberland the applicant can apply to
Northumberland Authority for free school meals.
Refunds for free school meals are only made in
exceptional circumstances. These are handled on an individual
basis.
How do I apply?
To be eligible for help you need to be
in one of the following categories:
- Receive Income Support(IS) or Income-based
Job Seekers Allowance (IBJSA).
- Receive Income Related Employment Allowance
(IREA).
- Have an entitlement to Child Tax Credit
(CTC), but not Working Tax Credit (WTC) and the family's annual
income (as assessed by the Inland Revenue) is not more than £16,040
for tax year 2009/2010(this figure changes on an annual
basis).
- Receive support under part VI of the
Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
- Receive the guarantee credit element of
Pension Credit.
Free School Meals application forms are
available from any school or The FSM office, Northumberland County
Council, County Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF or can be downloaded by
using the link. Forms can be returned to the school or The
FSM office. You are required to show up-to-date (no more than
one month old) proof of benefit in support of that claim.
We do not accept bank
statements! A photocopy of one of the qualifying benefit
letters will be sufficient.
How long will the process take?
Applications are processed as quickly as
possible however, at peak times forms are dealt with in strict
datal order therefore the timing for a response to an application
depends on the volume of forms awaiting processing. Claims
are started from the nearest Monday from the date an application is
received at the FSM office or the date handed in at a school,
providing the proof of benefit supplied is sufficient.
How often do I apply?
Claims for free school meals are reviewed
annually.
Any meals due to expire within the next 6
weeks will be electronically checked and extended for a further
year if benefit results are correct.
If the benefit results come back as not found
a reminder letter and application form will be sent out to you for
completion. The completed form and a recent proof of benefit
should be returned to either the FSM office or the school
before the meals expire.
When would I not be eligible?
You are not eligible if you are in one
or more of the following categories:
- Part time pupils (children at nursery) are
not entitled to free school meals. To qualify children must be
receiving education before and after the lunch period.
- Pupils whose parents receive other state
benefits but not those mentioned above.
- Pupils whose parents receive Working Tax
Credit.
- Pupils who are in foster care, if a child is
fostered the Carer will be receiving an allowance which covers all
costs for the child, including meals at home and school.
What if my circumstances change?
Schools and the FSM office should be
notified immediately of any changes:
- If you start work and your benefit
changes/stops
- If you change address
- If your child changes school
Failure to notify us of a change of
circumstance may affect your child's entitlement to free school
meals. If your child receives free meals when they are no longer
eligible, you will be required to reimburse the school any monies
owed.
If you have not informed us of a change of
address or you do not renew your award, your entitlement will be
cancelled. You will be responsible for the payment of any meals
taken and this will not be refunded, meals will not be backdated,
it is your responsibility to keep us informed.
Can I claim anything else for my child?
The approval of a FSM application
would entitle a child to:-
- Free milk - in First or Special school milk
at break-time will be free for the time the child is entitled to
free school meals. The child's school will make the appropriate
arrangements for the free milk.
- Help with music tuition and instruments - The
child's school will make the appropriate arrangements for this
service.
- Help with curriculum related
residential trips or school visits - The child's school
will make the appropriate arrangements for this service.
