Free school meals are provided for all pupils in Primary 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 as well as those families on qualifying benefits.

Your child will receive free school meals if you are in receipt of the following:

• Income Support
• Job seeker’s Allowance (Income based)
• Employment and Support Allowance (Income based)
• Child Tax Credit on its own, with an annual taxable income of less than £17,005 (subject to change)
• Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit with an annual taxable income of less than £7,920 (subject to change) 
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Universal Credit with a monthly earned income of not more than £660

1. Families in Receipt of Council Tax Reduction

Existing Families in receipt of Free School Meals/Clothing Grant

Families receiving Free School Meals/School Clothing Grant that are currently in receipt of Council Tax Reduction, can be assessed using your information we already hold, if you give us permission to do so. This means you may not need to provide additional information when you make a claim.

This assessment of Free School Meals will also include School Clothing Grant for all eligible children, £134 for Primary aged children and £150 for Secondary aged children.
If you are still eligible the following year, your award may automatically roll over, depending on your circumstances. You must tell us if there are any changes to your circumstances, and you can do this by completing a change in circumstances form, which can be found below.

• Change of parent/carer to be awarded the Clothing Grant
• Change of bank details
• Change of address
• Additional Children

Families not currently in receipt of Free School Meals/Clothing Grant.

If you are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction and do not currently have Free School Meals, we may contact you if you meet the qualifying criteria above. This contact may be via post, or via email or telephone if we have your contact information. 

This assessment of Free School Meals will also include School Clothing Grant for all eligible children, £134 for Primary aged children and £150 for Secondary aged children.

2. Families not in receipt of Council Tax Reduction

Families that are not in receipt of Council Tax Reduction, will need to submit an application form and also provide proof of benefit each school year as we will be unable to check if you meet the qualifying criteria listed above. 

You will also need to submit an application form in the below circumstances

• live out with the region and your child (ren) attends a school within Dumfries and Galloway.
• you are an asylum seeker receiving support under part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999

You must tell us if there are any changes to your circumstances, listed below, you can do this by completing a change in circumstances form, which can be found below.

• Change of parent/carer to be awarded the Clothing Grant
• Change of bank details
• Change of address
• Additional Children

In addition to the criteria above, Councils are now able to use their discretion in order to provide free school meals to pupils who may be under hardship due to exceptional circumstances. An application form should be completed, and you can contact us if you wish to discuss 030 33 33 3000. 

If you need to complete an application form, please see below.

• Apply online here
•  Download an application form [PDF – 64.74KB]
•  Download a Change of Circumstances notification form [PDF – 128.37KB]
• Call 030 33 33 3000

Click the image to download the form.