Free School Meals 

Children who attend a Somerset County Council school, whose parents or carers receive certain benefits may be entitled to free school meals.

Only the benefits listed here – and no other benefits – qualify you for free school meals for your children.

These are the benefits.

• Universal Credit with an annual household income of less than £7,400 after tax
• Income Support (IS)
• Employment and Support Allowance (Income related) – not Contribution related
• Income-based Job Seekers Allowance (IBJSA) – not Contribution based
• Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit.
• Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit with an annual taxable income (as assessed by HMRC) of less than £16,190, as long as the family is not also in receipt of Working Tax Credit.

If you have recently become unemployed, but are still receiving Working Tax Credits, you may be entitled to free school meals.

Apply online

You can apply online for free school meals by following this link to the Somerset County Council website and submitting an application form.

Alternatively you can print a copy of the application form for free school meals and take the completed form to your child’s school, or send it to – Entitlements Team, County Hall, Taunton, TA1 4DY.

You do not need to send evidence with this application. If we need evidence later, we will ask you for it.

Apply in person at our school reception

You will need to supply the following details so that the school can assess your application: 

If you have any questions about applying for free school meals, please contact us.

Changes to your benefit entitlement

Please contact the school immediately if your benefit changes or ends, as it may mean that you no longer qualify to claim free school meals. If it is found that you did not notify us that you were no longer entitled to claim free school meals, you will be invoiced for the cost of all school meals taken free to which your child(ren) were not entitled.

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