Free School Meals

Claiming Free School Meals (FSMs)

The B&NES Free School Meals Eligibility Checking service has a Free School Meals web page on the B&NES website with a link to an online benefit related free school meal application form which can be found using the following link:

https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals  and then navigate to 'Apply online for free school meals.'

Find below the Free School Meal application form (FSM25), which can then be emailed to freeschoolmeals@bathnes.gov.uk 

FSM - Application for Free School Meals 2025-26.doc

This message can also serve as a reminder to any of you that have had a change in circumstances, which now means you meet the qualification criteria for free school meals as detailed below, if you are receiving any of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 (i.e £616.67 pm), as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
• Income Support   
• Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income Related Employment Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit (WITHOUT Working Tax Credit) and have an annual household income (as assessed by HMRC) below £16,190
• Run-on Working Tax Credit which is only paid for 4 weeks after you STOP qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• The Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
• Support under PartV1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Now may also be a good time to remind you that if your child lives out of county starting at your school, you will need to apply to B&NES for a benefit related free school meal, either via the link above or the paper form attached. This applies even if the child had a claim for free school meals at a previous school outside of B&NES -  If the B&NES Free School Meals Team does not receive an application the child will not automatically appear on your school list as eligible and if there were to be vouchers in the future, not being on our/your list could cause problems.

Please be aware that changes to the assessment criteria for Free School Meals (FSM) will come into effect from the Autumn Term commencing 1 September 2026.

From this date, pupils eligible for Free School Meals will fall into two distinct categories:

Targeted Free School Meals (Targeted FSM)

Children from households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual earnings of £7,400 or less (the existing FSM threshold prior to the expansion) will qualify for targeted FSM. In addition to receiving free school meals, these pupils will continue to attract Pupil Premium and other associated disadvantage funding for their schools.

Expanded Free School Meals (Expanded FSM)

Children from households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual earnings above £7,400 will be eligible for expanded FSM. This entitlement applies to free meals only and does not attract additional funding.

Over the summer period, a review will be undertaken of all pupils currently receiving benefit-related Free School Meals to determine whether they fall within one of the above categories. Where transitional protection ends and eligibility criteria are no longer met, cases will be closed with effect from 1 September 2026.

Further information is available via the Government guidance at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools-and-local-authorities/free-school-meals-guidance-for-local-authorities-local-authority-maintained-schools-academies-and-free-schools