By Friday 14 October, there will be two payments made to parents and carers of children and young people who attend primary or secondary school and who qualify for free school meals based on family circumstances.

-free school meals payment

-additional Scottish Child Payment expansion payment (being paid to parents in the run up to this benefit being expanded to all children and young people aged 6 to 16).

By Friday 4 November, the £50 Winter Clothing payment will be paid directly into bank accounts. This payment is to support families to buy additional clothing as part of the cost of living and energy bills crisis and will be paid for each child in receipt of School Clothing Grant.

All of these payments are only for families who qualify (are on certain benefits) and will be paid out automatically to anyone who has applied for this school year (August 2022 to June 2023).

If you’ve already applied for free school meals or a school clothing grant, you do not need to apply again.

If you haven’t applied and you receive a qualifying benefit, you should apply by 28 October for a school clothing grant so we can include you in the £50 Winter Clothing payment.

If your child is in primary six or seven, you should apply so your child can get a free school meal as well as getting these payments.

If your child is in primary one, two, three, four or five, your child will automatically receive a school meal. However, if you are on certain benefits then you should apply for free school meals because the council make payments into your bank account in place of school meals during school holidays (spring, summer, October and Christmas breaks).

You should also apply for a clothing grant no matter what primary class your child is in (if you qualify).

For more information on if you qualify, search ‘free school meals and clothing grants’ on the council’s website.