School pupils aged between 5 - 16 and pupils aged between 16 - 19 who go to a sixth form attached to a secondary school, may be able to get free school meals.

To apply for free school meals:

To apply you must do so online at the Rochdale Council website:

Free School Meals Application

You don't need to re-apply for free school meals every year unless your circumstances change. If we award free school meals for a period of time that you've already paid for and you want a refund you need to contact the school directly.

Eligibility

You can apply for free school meals if:

1. Your child attends a school maintained by a local education authority and you and your child live in the Rochdale borough.
2. You, as the parent or guardian, must receive Child Benefit for the child you are responsible for.
3. You must also receive one of the qualifying benefits listed below:
   1. Income Support (IS).
   2. Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (IBJSA).
   3. An income-related employment and support allowance.
   4. Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
   5. Child Tax Credit - provided you aren't entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an income that doesn't exceed the current year's level.
   6. The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit.
   7. Working Tax Credit during the 4-week period immediately after your employment finished.
   8. ​​Universal Credit: your child is only eligible for free schools meals under Universal Credit if you and your partner have net earnings of less than £7,400 per year. We'll check your earnings with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). This criteria came into place on Sunday, 1 April 2018. However:
      • If your child was eligible for free school meals before Sunday, 1 April 2018, they'll stay eligible until Monday, 31 March 2025, regardless of if you or your partner's income changes.
      • After Monday, 31 March 2025, your child will stay eligible until the end of their current phase of education. For example, if your child is in year 4 in 2025, they will remain eligible until they finish primary school but will no longer be eligible for free school meals in secondary school if you and your partner's net income is more than £7,400 per year.

If your circumstances change

If you or your child's circumstances change free school meals may be withdrawn. All changes of circumstances must be reported by the claimant. 

Backdating

Free school meals are generally awarded from the date we get the application. If there's a break of four to five weeks in a claim for free school meals they would normally be reinstated back to back to the date of cancellation providing you are receiving a qualifying benefit. It is possible for free school meals to be backdated, especially if there are arrears involved. providing the claimant was getting a qualifying benefit for the whole of the period. The parent/carer must give good reasons, in writing, as to why they want their child's school meals backdating.