Free School Meals
Free School Meals
Am I Eligible for Free School Meals?
Cheshire East award free school meals to families that receive the qualifying incomes as outlined below, and whose children attend a Cheshire East school.
Parents/Guardians whose children attend schools outside Cheshire East need to contact the Local Authority in which the school is situated.
· Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)
· Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA(IR)
· support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
· Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) that does not exceed £16,190.
· The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit.
· Children who receive Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals.
· If you have recently become unemployed or have reduced your working hours and have been granted the four week working tax credits run on, then you may be entitled to free school meals. Please call our Schools Team on 0300 123 5012 for advice.
It should be noted that children who receive “education suitable for children who have not attained compulsory school age” will still need to satisfy the additional requirement of “receiving education both before and after the lunch period”, before being eligible to receive free school meals.
If You Think You Are Eligible
All you have to do is phone the number below and we will let you know if the Children in your care are entitled to Free School Meals.
Please check you entitlement NOW by phoning the helpline number
Free School Meals Helpline - 0300 123 5012. Alternatively you can complete the Free School Meals enquiry form online.
CE will assess your claim using our eligibility checker to confirm your entitlement; if successful your claim will begin the same day. If your claim is not successful or if we require any further information we will contact you by phone or email.