Free school meals
Your child could qualify for free lunches or milk, or be given
free fruit and vegetables at school. Cumbria County Council (external
link) provides
free lunches for eligible pupils (external link), paid-for
meals where requested and good facilities and supervision so pupils
can eat safely.
Free school lunches
Parents do not have to pay for school lunches if they receive
any of the following:
- 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 State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax
Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue &
Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
- Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately
after their employment finishes or after they start to work less
than 16 hours per week
Children who receive any of the qualifying benefits listed above
in their own right are also eligible to receive free school meals.
All pupils who do not qualify for free school lunches must be
charged the same amount for the same quantity of the same item.