Free school meals
Tower Hamlets benefits service is responsible
for administering claims for free school meals on behalf of the
council’s education department.
They are available to children attending
schools within Tower Hamlets whose parents (or guardian) are
either:
- receiving income support
- receiving income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- receiving the guarantee credit of pension credit
- receiving income-related employment and support allowance
- in receipt of support from NASS (national Asylum Support
Service)
- have an income, as assessed by the Inland Revenue, of less than
£15575 a year (this is called the threshold amount) and who do
not get working tax credit but do get child tax
credit
Please note you do not have to be claiming
housing benefit or council tax benefit in order to make a claim for
free school meals for your dependent children.
How to claim free school meals
The child’s parent (or guardian) must make a
claim either by:
- completing the
free school meals online claim form
- completing a paper copy of the claim form available
from schools, our One Stop Shops or
by telephoning the benefits service on 020 7364 5001
- making a claim for housing and/or council tax benefit (which
also counts as a claim for free school meals – you do not need to
complete a separate form in this case)
Information and evidence required
- the child’s name, date of birth and school
- evidence of the parent’s (or guardian’s) income (unless this
has been provided already)
Telling us about changes in circumstances affecting entitlement
to free school meals
If you stop getting income support,
income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and
support allowance, pension guarantee credit or your annual income
increases above the threshold amount or if you start to get working
tax credit your child’s entitlement to free school meals will
end.
Remember you must tell the benefits service
about any changes to your income or circumstances. For example
you must tell us if you child changes school and if you change
address.
Children who attend schools in Tower Hamlets but whose parents
live outside the borough
Some local authorities have reciprocal
arrangements with Tower Hamlets. You would need to contact Tower
Hamlets education services for advice.
Children whose parents live in the borough but who attend
schools outside the borough
Parents should apply to the authority where
the school is located – the school secretary should be able to give
you more information about this.
Appeals
If your child or children are not entitled to
free school meals you can appeal. However, the decision not to
grant free school meals does not come under the normal benefit
appeals process and cannot be changed unless you can show that the
information used in making the decision was incorrect.
If you wish to discuss making an appeal,
please call on 020 7364 5006. Appeals are dealt with by the
council’s education department, not the benefits service.
How will it be paid?
By cheque, which must be paid into a bank or
building society account in your name.
How to contact us
Tower Hamlets operates as a centralised
benefit claims processing service and a dedicated benefits call
centre both based at the Town Hall where all postal, email and
telephone enquiries should be directed. Home visits can be arranged
if you are housebound and do not have anyone who can help you.
Benefits Service
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London
E14 2BG
Show map
Tel: 020 7364 5001
Fax: 020 7364 7048
Email: benefits@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Personal callers should visit their nearest
One Stop Shop to hand in claim
forms, obtain receipts and have original evidence photocopied.
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