The entitlement for Free School Meals (FSM) criteria from 1 April 2018 is:

• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
• eligible for Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and the household income (as used by HMRC to assess tax credits) is not more that £16,190. Please note: anyone eligible for Working Tax Credit, or if you have a partner and they receive it, regardless of Income, you will not qualify
• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• In receipt of the 4 week run on of working tax credit (this is where someone becomes unemployed or reduces their hours and so is no longer entitled to working tax credit but will continue to receive it for a further 4 weeks and is entitled to free meals during that time) 
• Universal credit (provided you have an annual net earned household income of no more than £7,400 as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods). Your net earned income is your household income after taxes and deductions and does not include income from Universal Credit or any other benefits you may receive.

Staffordshire children can apply by clicking here.

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

Universal Free School Meals (UFSM)

UFSM is an ongoing government initiative which provides a free school lunch for all pupils in Reception Class, Year 1 and Year 2. This is not the same as the Free School Meals (FSM), which are provided for children whose parents are in receipt of certain benefits, as UFSM do not carry Pupil Premium funding. Parents of children in Reception, year 1 and year 2 who are in receipt of these benefits need to apply separately to the school to ensure that the Pupil Premium funding is made available to support their child.