Summer holiday 2026
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 summer 2026 holiday period for those families of school-age pupils entitled to free school meals who receive a qualifying benefit. The first payment will be made on Thursday 2 July 2026 for applications which were approved and processed prior to 1 July 2026. This payment will also cover the May Day holiday on Monday 4 May 2026 and in-service day on Friday 29 May 2026.
The free school meal direct payment will be made in three separate payments over the summer holidays on the dates specified below:
- Thursday 2 July 2026
- Friday 17 July 2026
- Friday 31 July 2026
If you were in receipt of a qualifying benefit (listed below), your child received free school meals as at Wednesday 1 July 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 [email protected].
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)
- Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Universal Credit with a monthly earned income of not more than £995
- Pension Credit
- If you are aged 16 to 18 years and receive any of these benefits in your own right, you can claim free school meals for yourself
