Free School Meals

You could be eligible for free school meals if you receive one of the following benefits:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
  • Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Child Tax Credit and your annual income is no more than £16,190
  • Working Tax Credit run-on-paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit and your household's annual net income is no more than £7,400 (£616.67  monthly)
  • Support under part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

If you are in receipt of Working Tax Credit in addition to any of these benefits you will not be eligible, even if the household income is below £16,190.

If you are already in receipt of FSM and need to inform us of a change in your circumstances e.g., change of address, school, change of benefit entitlement or an additional child attending school, you need to inform us of your ‘Change in Circumstances’.

If you are already in receipt of Free School Meals but have no change of circumstances, you do NOT need to apply again.

Apply for free school meals and inform us about a Change in your circumstances

 

On-going phased rollout of Universal Primary Free School Meals

Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) will be done in phases of different year groups. Since September 2022, all full-time Nursery and Reception children have been offered a Universal Primary Free School Meal (UPFSM). This provision was extended to all Year 1 pupils in January 2023 , all Year 2 pupils in April 2023 , Year 3 and 4 pupils in September 2023 and Year 5 in February.

From week commencing 8th April, we'll be expanding the offer to include all Year 6 pupils.

Please note that part-time pupils and those in childcare settings (even if the setting is within a school e.g., Cylch Meithrin) are NOT eligible.

This offer does not depend on your household income or whether you receive any benefits, every child in these year groups is eligible to take up the offer. The meal is only available during the school term and not during the school holidays.

The existing Free School Meal (FSM) scheme remains in place for ALL other eligible full-time pupils on roll in Carmarthenshire schools.

There is no need to apply for a UPFSM. However, it is imperative that you inform the school of any special dietary requirements for your child at the earliest opportunity to ensure that your child’s dietary needs can be met.

Please rest assured that if your child is currently in receipt of free school meals and/or any other associated benefits, these will not be affected. At present the process for requesting a free school meal remains in place and families are encouraged to apply in the usual way in order to secure maximum funding for pupils and their school.