As a Sefton resident, you are eligible for free school meals if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit and have a net household income of less than £7,400 per annum.
- Income Support.
- Income based Jobseekers Allowance.
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance.
- Child Tax Credit ONLY (not entitled/receiving Working Tax Credit) and have an income of less that £16,190.
- Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit.
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit).
- Support under VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act
Make an application
If you are on a qualifying benefit and do not already receive free school meals, we urge you to make a formal application as soon as possible.
You can fill out the form to apply here.
This can benefit your child’s school as they can claim extra funding (Pupil Premium).
During the school holidays, Sefton Council provides vouchers - worth £15 per week per child - top those who qualify for Free School Meals.
Nursery/ Pre- school
If you or your partner are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits and your child attends a Nursery all day at least one day a week, they could be eligible for free school meals.
Post 16 (6th form)
You will be entitled to claim free school meals if your child is 16 or over and attending a school 6th form.
Post 16 (FE College)
You will need to speak to the college directly to see what the policy is regarding claiming free school meals.
Vouchers will continue to be provided during the six weeks holidays if you are already eligible for free school meals. Please contact your school for more information. This includes leavers in year 11.
How to apply
You can fill out the form to apply here.
This letter was sent at the start of the academic year in September 2025. It is available here digitally so that you can translate into a different language if you need it or you can use a screen reader to read it or other accessibility features. Just use the 'Recite Me' function at the top of the page to access these features.
Letter sent to eligible families in September 2025
We’re pleased to let you know that your child is eligible to get free school meals from Sefton Council for the school year 2025/2026.
We looked at some records and personal data we hold (like school and benefit information) to help us find families who may be able to get this support. We’ve done this to help more families in Sefton and make sure no child misses out on the support that they are entitled to.
What does this mean for you?
If your child gets free school meals, you could get:
- A free, balanced meal every school day
- Extra help during school holidays (around £15 a week per child)
- Access to Holiday Activity and Food programmes
- Up to £500 saved each year on school meals!
Schools get extra money from the government (called Pupil Premium) for each child who gets free meals. This money helps pay for things like books, teachers and equipment – so your child benefits in their learning too!
If your child gets free meals, no one else will know and they won’t be treated any differently, your child will just get the support they are entitled to.
Do I Need To Do Anything?
No – you don’t need to do anything right now. If your child is eligible, you will be automatically added to our list and we’ll let the school know that they are eligible. Your school may contact you once you are added to their list or you may want to reach out to your school to work out the arrangements. Your child doesn’t have to take the free meal if you don’t want it, but it could save you money if you do.
If you want to opt out, just email us at education.benefits@sefton.gov.uk or ring 0151 934 3263 before 15th September. But please remember – this means:
- Your child might miss out on meals and holiday help
- The school will get less money to support learning in schools
It is important to us that families are able to access all the support they are entitled to and that children are benefitting from the extra money their school will be able to access to make learning in Sefton the best it can be.
Thank you, Sefton Council
More Information
If you would like this letter in a digital format in a different language, please visit www.sefton.gov.uk/freeschoolmealsautoenrol
Want to learn more about the support available to your family in Sefton? Visit our website at www.sefton.gov.uk/costofliving or visit our Family Hubs website for information on free groups, support sessions and school holiday activities for all the family at www.sefton.gov.uk/familyhubs
Read more about how and when we process personal information about you by visiting https://www.sefton.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax/privacy-notice-and-codes-of-practice/
On the 1st of April 2018, a Universal Credit wage threshold was introduced. This is for people in receipt of Universal Credit. Any new applicants who are working and have a net income of less than £7,400 per annum will be eligible for Free School Meals. If your child was eligible before 1st April 2018 they will stay eligible until March 2023. This is regardless of any change in your circumstances.
This also applies if your child is eligible after 1st April 2018.
After March 2023, these protections will last until the end of child’s phased education. For example, if your child is in year 2, they will receive Free School Meals until they finish Primary School. If you have a child in year 8, they will receive Free School Meals until they finish Secondary School.
Free School Meal protection applies to an individual child, NOT to the whole family. If you have any younger children, they must meet the criteria for Free School Meals at the time you apply for them. Please contact us if you have any younger children that you wish to claim Free School Meals for.
If you think you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply for Free School Meals.
You can fill out the form to apply here.
If your claim is successful, the school will be notified that your child is eligible for Free School Meals. The free school meals information will be treated with the strictest confidence.
If you are unable to apply online, please contact the School Admissions and Pupil Support team.
Email: education.benefits@sefton.gov.uk or telephone 0151 934 3263.
You can also complete and return the Free School Meals Application Form. The application form is in the downloads section below.
Please let us know if you have moved address or your child moves school. As from 1 April 2018, if your financial circumstances change and your child is in receipt of Free School Meals, they will remain eligible until March 2023.
From March 2022 your child will remain eligible until the end of their phased education. Please refer to the examples in Section 1.
Email: education.benefits@sefton.gov.uk
Telephone: 0151 934 3263
Pupil premium is extra funding and is provided by the government. This funding is to support your child’s education. If you or your partner are in one of the qualifying benefits, this can be claimed. Your child’s school will then receive up to £1300 per child in primary school and up to £935 per child in secondary school.
Please see individual school website for what this funding is used for.
For pupils who attend reception, year 1 or year 2. They are eligible to receive Free School Meals regardless of their parent’s income. You do not need to apply for Free School Meals and your school will write to you about this.
If you are on Universal Free School Meals, you will not be entitled to vouchers during the holiday periods.
| Free School Meals Form 2 |  (pdf 734KB) |