Free school meals

Free school meals are available to pupils in mainstream state-funded schools (including academies and free schools) who are receiving benefits such as:

• Universal Credit

• Income Support

• Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Employment and Support Allowance

• Pension Credit

• Certain tax credits

• Support under the Immigration and Asylum Act

You may also qualify if you:

• are an asylum seeker, or

• have no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

If you are unsure, it is still worth applying, we can check for you.

Children in households where parents or carers have no recourse to public funds (NRPF) may still be eligible for free school meals (FSM), depending on household income, capital and savings.

The entitlement is split into two categories:

1. Targeted Free School Meals

Available to families with a maximum annual income of:

• £28,500 with one child

• £29,400 with two or more children

This provides:

• Free school meals

• Additional support, including the Holiday Activities and Food Programme and School Holiday vouchers

• Pupil Premium funding for schools (up to £1,550 per eligible pupil)

2. Expanded Free School Meals

Available to families with a maximum annual income of:

• £29,400 with one child

• £37,300 with two or more children

This provides:

• Free school meals during term time only

Capital and savings limit

In addition to the income thresholds above, families must have no more than £16,000 in capital and savings.

Eligible groups

Eligible children may include those whose parents or carers who are:

• Zambrano carers (primary carers of British citizen children or dependent adults who have a right to reside because the British citizen would be unable to remain in the UK without their care)

• Families who have no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights

• Families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction

• A subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Chen carers (primary carers of certain EEA citizen children who have a derivative right to reside in the UK because the child would be unable to remain in the UK without them)

• Families holding a British national overseas passport (GOV.UK)

• Spousal visa holders

• Work visa holders

• Student visa holders

• Individuals with no immigration status

For further information visit the GOV.UK guidance on providing free school meals to families with NRPF

If a child’s parent receives support provided under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, the child may already be eligible for targeted free school meals. More details are in the Free school meals: guidance for local authorities, local-authority-maintained schools, academies and free schools - GOV.UK.

How to apply

Complete the application form to confirm that you have NRPF and meet the eligibility criteria.

As part of your application, you will be asked to upload evidence of your:

• NRPF status (for example, a Home Office letter or your visa documentation)

• Household income (for example, payslips, bank statement or letter from your employer)

Apply for free school meals from Salford families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 at state-funded schools receive free meals, regardless of income.

If you are on a low income, you should still apply for Targeted FSM to help the school receive extra funding (Pupil Premium) and access additional support like the holiday activities and food programme and holiday vouchers.

If your child is aged 16 to 19 and in further education or attending a sixth form not attached to a school, free meals are not managed by the council.

You will need to apply directly through the college or education provider, as they have their own eligibility criteria and application process.

Through our BetterOff service, we may be able to award free school meals automatically.

If our records show you are likely to be eligible, we will contact you and you may not need to apply.

Please use the form below to apply for free school meals. To complete the form, you will need both you and your partner's (as applicable) National Insurance Number or NASS (National Asylum Support Service) number and date of birth.

If you child attends one of the schools below, please do not use this form, instead contact your school directly:

• Barton Moss Primary School

• Buile Hill Academy

• Ellesmere Park High School

• Marlborough Road Academy

• Moorside High School

• St Augustine's CE Primary School

If you have a general enquiry about free school meals please use our contact FSM form.

Enquire about a child’s existing free school meal claim

If you are the child's parent or carer and claiming any of the qualifying benefits please use this form:

Apply for free school meals (parents and carers)

Or if you are an asylum seeker please use this form:

Apply for free school meals as an Asylum Seeker

Members of staff who work at Salford schools can submit applications and enquiries on behalf of parents using our Salford schools FSM form.

Salford schools free school meal application/enquiry form

Members of staff who work at schools outside Salford can submit applications and enquiries on behalf of parents using our out of area schools FSM form.

Out of area schools free school meal application/enquiry form

Members of staff who work for Salford City Council can submit applications and enquiries on behalf of parents using the form below.

Council employees free school meal application/enquiry form

Members of staff from external organisations that support asylum seekers can submit applications and enquiries on behalf of parents using our External organisations FSM form.

External organisations free school meals application/enquiry form

Please be aware that photos of supporting documents or screen shots of online accounts can be uploaded with any of the above forms, and that we will be unable to process applications for free school meals unless we have seen the necessary proof that you are entitled to claim.

You can:

• ask at your child’s school

• visit your local gateway or hub

• call us on 0161 793 2500