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Children who attend school in the Vale of Glamorgan and whose parents or carers receive the following benefits are entitled to receive Free School Meals.
Universal Credit - and neither you nor your partner (if applicable) are employed
Universal Credit - and either you or your partner (if applicable) is employed but, the net earned income (of you both, if both are employed) does not exceed £7,400 per annum or £616.67 per month. This falls under the ‘targeted free school meals’ category
Universal Credit - and either you or your partner (if applicable) is employed and the net earned income (of you both, if both are employed) exceeds £7,400 per annum or £616.67 per month. This falls under the new ‘Extended Free School Meals for years 7 and 8 only’ scheme, from September 2026.
Guaranteed Pension Credit
Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 – please include a copy of your Home Office letter, confirming your immigration status with this application
Children over 16 years who receive benefits in their own right, who are living away from home
You will not qualify for Free School Meals if you are in receipt of Universal Credit and your household annual net income from employed or self-employed earnings exceeds £7,400, unless your children attend years 7 and 8.
Free School Meals are administered by the Benefits department.
Download an application form, fill it in, and return it to:
Free School Meals
Benefits Department
Civic Offices
Holton Road
Barry
CF63 4RU
Alternatively please call us on 01446 709244 and we will post a form to you.
You must let us know if your circumstances change, including:
If you start work or come off benefits
If you change to a different benefit
If you change of address
If your child moves to another address
If your child changes school during the school year
You will also need to complete a new application if your child starts school for the first time and for any subsequent children when they start school.
If your child attends school outside of the Vale of Glamorgan, you will need to claim Free School Meals from the council where the school is located.
Please also note you cannot claim Free School Meals for private schools, nursery schools, or college.