Article: Free school meals Article Body Free school meals are available to those pupils in full time education whose parent/guardian receives one of the following: income support income based job seekers allowance income related employment and support allowance guarantee element of state pension credit child tax credit with no working tax credit and have an income as assessed by the Inland Revenue that does not exceed £16,190 (subject to change annually) support under Part 1V of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Pupils are also entitled to free school meals if they themselve receive any of the above allowances in their own right. Children whose parents or guardians are in receipt of working tax credits and disabled working tax credits do not qualify for free school meals. The council only has a duty to provide a free school meal once a request has been made by a parent, so if you meet the above criteria, you need to complete an application for free school meals and return it to the Directorate for Children, Young People and Families Scheme of Aid Section. You can also apply in person at The Civic Centre on Eldon Street, Barnsley between 1 and 2pm Monday to Friday . If you live in Barnsley, but your child attends school in Rotherham, Doncaster or Sheffield, you should apply to the authority where the school is situated. If you live in Rotherham, Doncaster or Sheffield but your child attends school in Barnsley, you should apply to Barnsley. If your application is successful, we will write to you and to your child's school to confirm your entitlement and free school meals will be available from the day of application. Completing the form You must fill in each section of the form. Each section starts with a question to help you decide if all the questions in that section are relevant to you. If you do not give us enough information or do not answer sections, we will return the form to you to complete. Answer 'Yes' or 'No' questions by putting a tick in the relevant box. If you are picking an answer from a list of answers, put a tick in the relevant box. Do not put a cross in any other boxes. Barnsley MBC has the facility to check benefit entitlement. This means that you do not need to send proof at this stage; however if we are unable to establish entitlement we may request documentary evidence. Changes you have to tell us about You need to tell us straightaway about any changes in your circumstances that could affect your benefit. These changes could include: any changes to your benefits any of your children leave school or move to another address you move to another address you start work - your benefits will change, so you need to tell us immediately if you start a new job or, if already working, increase your normal hours, start working overtime, get a pay rise etc. Data protection We will use the information you give on the free school meals application form and any supporting evidence you send us to process your claim for free school meals. We will not give information about you to anyone else, or use information about you for other purposes, unless the law allows us to. Barnsley Metropolitan Council is the data controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998. Please ask if you would like to know more about what information we have about you, or the way that we use that information. Legislation Section 201 The Education Act 2002 Useful links School catering Welfare Rights Barnsley Schools Meals Website Challenge and Change - Benefits for Families with Children at School How to contact us Scheme of Aid Section Directorate for Children, Young People and Families Postal address: PO Box 634, Barnsley S70 9GG Telephone: 01226 773513 Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 5.00pm and Fridays 8.30am to 4.30pm Email: cypf@barnsley.gov.uk Surgery - Civic Centre, Eldon Street, Barnsley - held between 1pm and 2pm each Wednesday and on other days by appointment only. Frequently asked questions Do I qualify for Free School Meals? To quality for free school meals you must be in receipt of: income support ncome based job seekers allowance income related employment support allowance guarantee element of state pension credits child tax credits with no working tax credits and an income (as assessed by Inland Revenue) of less than £16,190 support via the Home Office under the National Asylum Support Service You do not qualify if you are in receipt of working tax credits. How will I know that my child/ren can have free school meals? When we receive and process your application you will be sent a confirmation of entitlement letter. Copies of which will be forwarded to the relevant school/s your child/ren attend. Do I qualify for free school milk? Yes if you are registered as being entitled to receive free school meals. Do I qualify for free music lessons? Yes if you are registered as being entitled to receive free school meals and the lessons have to be provided by Barnsley Music Service. Why has my entitlement ended? We have not been able to confirm your benefit entitlement. You need to re-apply. Do I need to apply for my child starting school - my other children already get them? Yes you need to apply for each child as and when they start school. I have changed schools/address do I need to re-apply? No (we change the details on system and inform schools - we also check benefit details). Do you backdate claims? Free school meals are available from the date of application. Only in exceptional circumstances would a claim be backdated for example if benefits were awarded retrospectively. You would have to put your request in writing. I am in receipt of working tax credit. Can I apply for free school meal? Parents/guardians in receipt of working tax credits are not entitled to free school meals.