We would like to remind you of the criteria which make students eligible for Free School Meals, and to encourage you to apply if you think your child is eligible, but is not already receiving Free School Meals. As well as ensuring that you receive the benefit to which you are entitled, the school's income is also determined to a significant degree by the number of students claiming Free School Meals. It is therefore beneficial to the whole school community as well as to the individual families concerned if the entitlement is taken up.

Your child might be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• 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)
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s 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’re 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.

If you think you are eligible to claim Free School Meals for your son/daughter and are not already doing so, you can apply on-line.

More details are available on the Kent County Council website.