Maltby Academy

The Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) guidance on Free School Meals is:

Who qualifies for free school meals?

Your children may be entitled to a free school meal if you are entitled to receive one or more of the following:

Income Support (IS)

Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)

An income-related employment and support allowance

Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; or

Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) that does not exceed £16,040. Note: From 1 May 2009 where a parent is entitled to Working Tax Credit during the four- week period immediately after their employment ceases, or after they start to work less than 16 hours per week, their children are entitled to free school lunches.

The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit.

Children who receive IS or IBJSA in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals.

It should be noted that children who receive "education suitable for children who have not attained compulsory school age" will still need to satisfy the additional requirement of "receiving education both before and after the lunch period", before being eligible to receive free school meals.

How do I apply?

If you apply for housing or council tax benefit and are in receipt of any of the above, we will automatically process your claim. If you do not wish to claim housing or council tax benefit, a separate Free School Meals application form will need to be completed.

Even if you do not qualify for housing benefit/council tax benefit, you can still claim as long as you receive a qualifying income.

The form must be completed by the parent or guardian who receives child benefit.

You must provide proof of child benefit, income support, job seekers allowance (income based) or child tax credit.

Download the application form at the bottom of the page.
Who is notified of the decision?

Once your application is processed we will notify both you and the Academy.

What if my child changes school?

You must notify the benefits office as soon as possible so that we can notify the new school.

What happens to free school meals if I stop receiving a qualifying benefit?

You must notify the benefits office as soon as stop receiving a qualifying benefit.

Your free school meal will stop and we will notify the school of this.

The school may send you a bill for any meals taken for which you are not entitled.

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