Can I claim free school meals for my children?
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Claiming free school meals for your children can help save you money!
You can claim free school meals for your children if you are receiving:
- Income Support; or
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
If you are aged between 16 and 18, at school and receive these benefits in your own right, you can claim free school meals for yourself.
You may also be eligible if you are an asylum seeker and receive support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. For more information, contact your project officer at the education department of your local authority.
To claim free school meals, contact your child's school or your local authority's education department.
Claiming free school meals means that:
- your children can have a free healthy meal at lunchtime;
- your children can take part in the social experience at lunchtime;
- your children can learn about food and healthier choices; and
- you save money.
Don't forget to check whether your children are eligible for free school meals.
Claim your entitlement!
Why should my children have school meals?
It is important that children have something to eat at lunchtime because:
- lunch provides a very important part of a child's daily intake of nutrients;
- well-presented food at school can help children and young people learn more about food, nutrition and healthy lifestyles in a way that will shape their eating habits throughout their life; and
- eating well and drinking enough helps children to concentrate.
We are committed to improving the health of our children and want to make sure that every child has the best start in life. A good start in life is essential as the future health of children is greatly influenced by their early years.
Access to free school meals is an important part of the school meals service in Scotland. We will improve school meals by asking schools to:
- use Scottish nutrient standards to make sure that the lunch available is healthy and promotes growth;
- make sure that children who have free school meals do not feel different to other pupils who pay for all their school meals;
- make dining rooms places that children will enjoy using, both for eating lunch and being with friends; and
- reduce queues, making school meals a more attractive option for your children.
These changes will take time to happen right across Scotland, but they will mean an improved school meals service which will provide a better and more enjoyable experience for your children.
More information
- To claim free school meals, contact your child's school or your local authority's education department.
- For advice on healthy eating, contact the Healthy Eating hotline on 0845 2 78 88 78 or go to the healthy eating website at www.healthylivingscotland.gov.uk
- For information on the work of the Expert Panel on School Meals, check out the school meals website at www.scotland.gov.uk/education/schoolmeals
- To claim Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, contact your local Jobcentre or Jobcentre Plus office.
- To check what benefits you are entitled to, contact your local Citizen's Advice Bureau, your local law or advice centre, or the welfare rights adviser at your local authority.
- For information on your local welfare rights office, contact:
Rights Advice Scotland
c/o Glasgow City Council
Welfare Rights Unit, 3rd Floor
Nye Bevan House
20 India Street
Glasgow G2 4PF.
Phone: 0141 287 8732
You can get this leaflet free of charge in Braille, on audio tape, and in Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Arabic, Chinese and Gaelic.
Scottish Executive
Social Inclusion Division
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
Phone: 0131 244 0064
E-mail: socialjustice@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
You can also get this document on our
website at www.scotland.gov.uk/socialjustice/freeschoolmealsleaflet.asp