You may qualify for both free school meals and a school clothing grant, or you may qualify for just one of them, depending on your circumstances.

How to qualify for both free school meals and school clothing grant

You must receive one of the following:

  • Income Support
  • Pension Credit
  • Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
  • Employment and support allowance (income-related)
  • Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Universal Credit – including those with take-home pay of up to £995 per month
  • Universal Credit, with monthly earned income of not more than £1,778 (School clothing grant only)
  • Scottish Child Payment for children in Primary 6/7 or S1/2/3 (Free school meals only)

You can also receive free school meals and a clothing grant if you care for a child as part of a kinship care agreement.

All children in primary 1-5 can receive a free school meal without an application however, you must still apply to receive free school milk.

How to qualify for free school meals only

You may qualify for free school meals only if you receive the Scottish Child Payment for a child in primary 6 or 7 and S1 to S3.

You will need to provide evidence of your Scottish Child Payment award along with your application. This should be an official letter from Social Security Scotland, confirming your award.

Children who receive free school meals on this basis do not receive payments during school holidays and do not get free school milk.

How to qualify for school clothing grant only

You may qualify for the school clothing grant only if you receive Universal Credit and your monthly earned income is £850 to £995.

All children in primary 1-5 can receive a free school meal without an application however, you must still apply to receive free school milk and a school clothing grant.