FREE SCHOOL MEALS - FSM

Free school meals

If you are claiming certain benefits you could save money by claiming free school meals for your child.

All primary aged pupils (Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6) are entitled to a 'Universal Free School Meal.'  

Families of children eligible for the 'Universal Free School Meal' do not need to apply for the school meal offer as they will be automatically enrolled at their school. However, families on low income may be eligible for other benefits such as school uniform and money off school trips. In order to assess eligibility for this, an application for free school meals can be made here.

Parents who are confirmed eligible for free school meals still need to apply separately for the school uniform grant.

Further information can also be found on the gov.wales/get help with school costs(opens new window) webpage.

Families with children who receive traditional free school meals and are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, may also be entitled to help towards their water bills from Welsh Water(opens new window).

Children whose parents or carers receive the following support payments are entitled to receive free school meals in schools maintained by the council. The term 'parent' includes someone living in the household as the partner of a child's biological parent.

• Universal Credit if your annualised net earnings are £7400 or less*
• Income Support
• Income based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit where total annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Custom service) is less than £16,190 a year
• Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - this is the payment someone receives for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit (usually when their employment ceases or after they start to work less than 16 hours per week). Any other type of Working Tax Credit will not make you entitled to free school meals.

Pupils who receive Income Support or Income based Job Seekers Allowance in their own right are also eligible to receive free school meals.

School Essential Grant

Please click on the link below for information on the School Essential Grant

School Essentials Grant (formerly school uniform grant - PDG access) - Swansea

The School Essentials Grant is available to children and young people:

• eligible for free school meals (eFSM)
• Children Looked After (CLA), (must attend a Swansea school)
• those who are classed as No Resource to Public Funds (NRPF)
• in year groups Reception to Year 11 (as of September 2025)