Skip to content ↓

Free School Meals (FSM)

The entitlement for Free School Meals (FSM) criteria is:

  • Income Support
  • Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
  • Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190). 
  • Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:

Staffordshire children can apply by clicking here.

Stoke-on-Trent children can apply by clicking here.

Infant Free School Meals (UFSM)

Your child will be able to get free school meals if they’re in a government-funded school and in:

  • reception class
  • year 1
  • year 2

Tell your local authority if you also get any of the qualifying benefits. Your child’s school can get extra funding if you do.