Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM)
In 2014 the UIFSM policy was introduced. All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 were entitled to a free meal regardless of personal circumstances. This is subject to change with government policy but has been confirmed for the academic year 2019 to 2020. To get your free meal please ask at your child’s school.
Free school meal entitlement
All children aged 3 to 18 at Derbyshire nurseries or schools can get a free meal if they qualify. Qualifying criteria:
- Universal Credit, provided they have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400 (£616.67 per month)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of State 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) as assessed by HMRC
Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Universal Credit has begun to be rolled out in Derbyshire and will affect all areas of Derbyshire by the end of 2022.
Most families will not be affected by the new criteria. Families who are currently claiming free school meals, but fail to meet the new criteria, will continue to receive free school meals until the end of the Universal Credit rollout period, even if they continue to appear as no longer eligible on future reports. The rollout period is cur- rently scheduled to end in March 2022.
Once Universal Credit is fully rolled out, pupils will keep their free school meal entitlement until the end of their current phase of education, that is, primary or secondary.
Read more about free school meals guidance for schools and local authorities.
Young people age 16 to 18 who receive the benefits or tax credits in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals.
Even if you meet any or all of the criteria, families will not be eligible if they are claiming Working Tax Credit.
Applying for free school meals
You can sign up for free school meals at any time of year.
You or your partner can claim for your children, as long as you live at the same address.
You do not have to fill in a separate form for each child, even if they go to different schools. Just name the child and which school they go to.
If another of your children starts school and one of your children already has free school meals, we can add them to the application you already have. Just call the free school meals team tel: 01629 536400 or 01629 536481.
If your circumstances change or you stop getting some benefits, you must contact us, tel: 01629 536481.
