Free School Meals
To make a claim for free school meals go online to:
https://calderdalecouncil.custhelp.com/app/free-school-meals
Children can get free school meals, if their parents or guardians get:
- Universal Credit - your net earned income must be less than £7,400.
- Income Support.
- Job Seeker's Allowance (income based).
- Employment and Support Allowance.
- Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit.
- Support payments under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
You must inform the Benefits Office if you have any changes that affect the above income. It can also affect your entitlement to free school meals.
Changes for 2026-27
From September 2026, all children can get free school meals, if:
- they attend an eligible school;
- and their household gets Universal Credit.
There will be two types of free school meals based on benefits:
Targeted
This is the same as now.
It applies to pupils from households on Universal Credit with annual earnings of £7,400 or less. As well as free meals, these pupils will still bring pupil premium and other disadvantage funding to their school.
Expanded
This is a new category.
It is for pupils whose households get Universal Credit, but earn more than £7,400 a year. These pupils will be entitled to free school meals only.
To make a claim for free school meals go online to:
https://calderdalecouncil.custhelp.com/app/free-school-meals