Is your child entitled to Free School Meals?

If you are on a low income or receive Child Benefit and any of the following benefits, you could claim free school meals for your child.

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers' Allowance
• Child Tax credit
• Pension Credit (guaranteed credit)
• Employment and Support Allowance   

Who may qualify for free school meals?

• Children of parents whose only or main income is one of the benefits listed over the page.
• Children of parents whose combined income from work is £16,190 or less a year.
• Children of asylum seekers.
• Children who live outside Barking and Dagenham but who meet the previous criteria and are attending a school in the borough.

Who is unlikely to qualify for free school meals?

• Children of parents whose combined income from work is more than £16,190 a year.
• Children of parents who receive Working Tax Credit.
• Children who live in Barking and Dagenham but attend a school outside the borough (you would need to claim from the local authority the school is in).

How to apply

You can complete an application form (a copy has been included in this Parents’ Booklet).

Or you can complete the form online at www.lbbd.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals

Further help

If you have any question or would like to speak to someone about your Free School Meal claim please telephone 0208 227 2970 or email the benefits on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You can also speak to Stavey Primus, our Parents Support Advisor on 0208 507 4528.