Parents and carers who receive certain benefits may be eligible for either Pupil Premium funding or Free School Meals.
Milton Keynes City Council does not offer an eligibility checking service. To make a claim, please contact your child’s school.
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children receive free school meals at no cost to you. This is a universal entitlement for all infant aged children. By applying for free school meals for children in these year groups, parents receiving one of the welfare benefits listed below will be eligible for Pupil Premium funding. This is extra money for the school, provided by government, to pay for targeted support for learning.
Year 3 and above children receive free school meals if the parent/carer is receiving one of the welfare benefits listed below.
Who is eligible?
Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
- 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 guarantee 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 four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
In addition, the following pupils will be protected against losing their free school meals as follows:
- Since 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants have continued to receive free school meals whilst Universal Credit is rolled out. This applies even if their earnings rise above the threshold during that time.
- In addition, any pupil gaining eligibility for free school meals after 1 April 2018 will be protected against losing free school meals until March 2025.
- After March 2025, any existing claimants that no longer meet the eligibility criteria at that point (because they are earning above the threshold or are no longer a recipient of Universal Credit) will continue to receive free school meals until the end of their current phase of education (i.e. primary or secondary).
A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal when a claim for the meal has been made on their behalf and their eligibility, or protected status, has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority.
Please contact your child's school for details of how to apply.
School Uniform Grant
Milton Keynes City Council does not have a school uniform policy. However some schools may offer support to families and parents will need to contact the school direct to find out further information.