Cumbria County Council : Children`s Services : Student Support : Financial Assistance : Free School Meals

Free school meals are available for your child(ren) if you are receiving one of the following qualifying benefits:

Income Support (IS);
Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA);
an income-related employment and support allowance
support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) that as of 6th April 2009 does not exceed £16,040. Note: From 1st May 2009 where a parent is entitled to Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after their employment ceases, or after they start to work less than 16 hours per week, their children are entitled to Free School Meals;
the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit.

Children who receive Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers Allowance in their own right are also entitled to receive Free School Meals and Clothing Grants.

If you receive one of these benefits, you should complete Form WB1 (see link below) to apply for free school meals.

You must be able to provide recent proof of the qualifying benefit you are receiving together with proof of Child Benefit. In most cases documents and letters older than 3 months are not acceptable nor are photocopies or signing on cards. Original documents will be returned to you. Please bring these with you if you are calling into one of the Children's Services Offices to complete an application form. This will ensure that your child receives free school meals as soon as possible.

In primary schools, entitled pupils receive whatever is on the menu that day. A cafeteria system operates in secondary schools and pupils are given a token to make their own selection.

Download Form WB1 (2009-2010)