Free School Meals

Guide to applying for free school meals

Criteria for eligibility

You can get FSM if you are responsible for a child (for example, you receive Child Benefit for them) as long as you get one of these qualifying incomes:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Universal Credit (provided your earned income is no more than £7,400 per year)
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Further information about eligibility, including declaring a change in your circumstances can be found here on the Stockport government website

Applying online

Before you start the online application, you will need your National Insurance Number and an email address. You will also be asked to complete the following sections: your details, partner details, income and benefits, children that live with, equalities and declaration.

As you complete each section, a tick will appear on the contents page as shown above. If you start the form but cannot complete it, you can save and exit to return to at a later time.  

Other ways to apply for free school meals

If you do not have access to a computer or the internet at home, libraries can be used for accessing emails (or creating an email account) and to complete the application form. Alternatively, there is a number of Local advice centres around Stockport which provide computers and assistance for completing FSM applications, the details for the advice centres are found in the link below: 

For Further Guidance

If you have a query about free school meals you can email benefitsfsm@stockport.gov.uk 

Stockport Town Hall can also provide assistance with applying for FSM. When calling or visiting the town hall, ask to speak to the ‘schools team’.

Stockport Town Hall  
Edward St,
Stockport
SK1 3XE
Monday to Thursday: 8:30am to 5pm
Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed 

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