COVID-19: Temporary extension of Free School Meals eligibility
During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Government is temporarily extending the offer of free school meals to include families who fit into one of the categories below.
If your family has an income of less than £7,400 a year income AFTER tax, that means that you take home less than £616.00 an month. Your income can be through working full or part time, or any of the benefit payments.
It may be that you are on low income, recently lost your job or had reduced hours. It may be due to you not being entitled to benefits due to an investigation. No matter what reason, if you are taking home less than £616 a month in total for all adults within your home, then this information is for you.
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If you are granted Leave to Remain as a ‘Zambrano' carer (the legal guardian or direct parent) but you are not a British Citizen, you are the primary carer of a child who is a British Citizen, and that there are no other members of the of family in the UK or the EEA who could look after the child.
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If you are granted Leave to Remain under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in respect of your rights to a private and family life. Evidence could include a letter from the Home Office granting you leave to remain, or a biometric residence card.
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If you are supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act, your child may also temporarily qualify for free school meals. Evidence could include a letter from the Home Office or local authority confirming Section 4 support, and should be dated within the last six months.
Dudley Academies Trust would like to support you in getting the help you are entitled too. If you think that this applies to you, please contact your school using the following contact method. They will be happy to explain the process to ensure that you claim correctly, and do not end up having to pay back money that you were not entitled to receive.
Free School Meals are currently being paid directly to you in the form of food vouchers that can be spent in your choice of supermarket retailers.
If you would like to know more, or believe that you are now eligible for Free School Meals, please email us using the following address and a member of staff will get back to you as soon as possible :