Following the decision to provide direct payments for free school meals during the school holiday periods, these payments will continue to be provided over the Spring holiday period for those families of school-age pupils entitled to free school meals who receive a qualifying benefit. The payment will be made on Friday 3 April 2026 for applications which were approved and processed prior to Friday 27 March 2026.
Applications processed between Friday 27 March and Friday 3 April 2026 will not be paid until after Friday 3 April 2026.
If you were in receipt of a qualifying benefit (listed below), your child received free school meals as at Thursday 26 March 2026, and you received a school clothing grant during school session 2025/2026, you do not need to contact us - a payment will be made automatically to you. The Council will contact parents directly where bank account details are not currently held. If you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit for free school meals but did not receive a school clothing grant, please contact us at FBSSchools@pkc.gov.uk.
Note: Children receiving free school meals based on universal provision (P1 to P5), children in P6 to P7 who are in receipt of free school meals based on Scottish Child Payment, and those currently receiving free lunches in Early Learning and Childcare settings, are not eligible for this payment.
Qualifying benefits
- Income Support (IS)
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (IBJSA)
- Any income-related element of Employment and Support Allowance
- If you are aged between 16 and 18 years old and receive any of these benefits in your own right, you can claim free school meals for yourself
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Universal Credit where the monthly earned income does not exceed £850
