Free school meals

You can apply for free school meals if your child attends a Hull school or sixth form on a full-time basis. This includes Hull College 14 to 16 direct entry, academies and free schools. To do so by register on the My School Portal and complete the online form. You must be in receipt of one of the following benefits -

  • income support
  • income based jobseeker's allowance
  • income related employment and support allowance (ESA – IR)
  • universal credit if the household is earning less than £7,400 per year
  • asylum seekers receiving support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • the guaranteed element of state pension credit
  • child tax credit with an annual income of no more than £16,190 as assessed by the Inland Revenue. If also in receipt of working tax credit you will not be eligible
  • working tax credit run on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit

You can claim if you are over 16 years of age and are receiving one of the above qualifying benefits.

If your child is attending an East Riding school, apply to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

On Tuesday 1 April 2025, the Government's transitional protection arrangements for means tested Free School Meals ended. Any eligible claims confirmed from this date will no longer be protected. This means any child confirmed as eligible for free school meals from this date will have their eligibility reviewed if we are informed of a change in circumstances.

This will not impact any children who are confirmed as eligible before Tuesday 1 April 2025. Their eligibility will remain protected until the end of their current phase of education. The end of a phase of education happens as year 6 pupils move into year 7 and Year 11 pupils move into year 12 (in a school 6th form) in September. These children will then be subject to ongoing checks to confirm continued eligibility if we are informed of a change in circumstance.

For more information about providing free school meals to families with no recourse to public funds, visit GOV.UK.

If you think you are eligible for free school meals you can apply online -

Apply for free school meals(opens in a new window)

You will find out the decision of your application by letter within 7 days. The school will be notified electronically if approved.

The school the child attends will give out free school meals vouchers during school holidays.

If you have not received this, speak to the school directly.

General Enquiries

For general enquiries contact -