Please see below to find out more about School Meals at Mount St Joseph.
They are school dinners for children between the ages of 4 and 16 who attend full time school (but not private schools). They may also be awarded to some children outside this age range who attend full time school or nursery.
To qualify you or your partner must be getting one of the following:
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more that £7,400, as assessed by earning from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Child Tax Credit only (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
If you or your partner would like to make a claim this can be done by;
Telephoning 01204 331590 or sending an email to housing.benefits@bolton.gov.uk or by visiting one of our local offices.
You do not need to make a separate claim if you are already getting or have applied for Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefit or School Clothing Allowance. We will use the information and evidence you have already provided to confirm your entitlement.
You need to provide an up to date document showing that you are getting one of the above qualifying benefits.
If you do not have any proof or require further information, please contact us for advice on 01204 331590 or visit our website www.bolton.gov.uk
Guidance Free school meals
Main points
The government recognises the benefits of providing a healthy school meal to the most disadvantaged pupils.
The Education Act 1996 as amended, places a duty on maintained schools, academies and free schools to provide free school meals (FSM) to pupils of all ages that meet the criteria. This includes pupils in school-based nurseries and maintained nursery schools.
Changes for the 2026 to 2027 academic year
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit attending these schools will be entitled to receive a free meal.
We have made this a legal requirement through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 and intend to lay additional regulations extending this duty to maintained nursery schools.
Going forward, there will be 2 categories of benefits-based free school meals:
- Targeted FSM, which continues to be based on the existing threshold, covering pupils who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
- Expanded FSM, a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit
Who is eligible for benefits based free school meals
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, we are expanding FSM eligibility to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings. Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal where both:
- a claim for this support has been made
- their eligibility has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority
Households may also be entitled to a meal if they:
- are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit
- meet criteria set out in separate guidance for families with no recourse to public funds
Households qualifying for free meals because they are in receipt of support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will also be eligible for targeted FSM.
Households in receipt of Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the guarantee element of Pension Credit or households with families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) may also be eligible for targeted FSM.
Providing free school meals to families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
Eligible groups
These groups include, but may not be limited to children of:
- Zambrano carers
- families who have no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
- families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction
- a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Chen carers
- families holding a BN(O) passport
- spousal visa holders
- work visa holders
- student visa holders
- those with no immigration status
The maximum income threshold differs based on your location and the number of children that your family has.
Income thresholds
Under the permanent extension of free school meal eligibility to all NRPF groups, the annual household income thresholds for those families able to work are:
- £22,700 for families outside of London with 1 child
- £26,300 for families outside of London with 2 or more children
Zambrano or Chen carers
In many (but not all) cases, the family will be able to show a derivative residence card. If they do not hold this, they must be able to show that:
- the carer or parent is not a British citizen
- the child is a British citizen
- the carer is a direct relative or legal guardian of the child, and they have the primary responsibility for the child
- there are no other members of the carers’ family in the UK or the EEA who could look after the child
