• All children in primary 1 to 5

• Children from families on a low income

• Children from families receiving support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Children in primary 6 to 7 if the parent/carer receives the Scottish Child Payment

• Young people in Secondary Year 1 to Secondary Year 3 (S1-S3) if the parent/carer receives the Scottish Child Payment

Free school meals after primary 5

Payments during school holidays in P1 to S6

School clothing grant (we will award this automatically if you qualify for free school meals based on your income)

To be eligible, parents or carers, or the child if they are between 16 and 18 years old, must receive a qualifying benefit or support (you must provide evidence of your entitlement):

• Income Support (IS)

• Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA)

• Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance

• Universal Credit with a monthly take home pay of less than £850

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Families who receive Scottish Child Payment

If you don't meet the conditions for families on a low income, you can still apply for free school meals if you:

• Get the Scottish Child Payment; and

• Have a child in primary 6 or 7 or

• Have a child in Secondary Year 1, Secondary Year 2 or Secondary Year 3

Some info

• Money for free school meals is only available after break time. 

• The amount that is allocated for free school meals is £2.65 each day but this doesn't show up on the card when checked by the child however, it is in the system.

• The money is not carried over each day.

• Instead of lunch cards your child is given a pin number which relates to their account.

Remember...

If you qualify for free school meals you have to continue to supply evidence for this, each year during September/October. If you do not supply the necessary evidence, free school meals will stop for your child. 

Through Aberdeen City Council, vouchers are paid to families in receipt of free school meals during holiday periods. Vouchers will be sent by email or mobile text message for each child in a family in receipt of free school meals due to low-income.  Vouchers are issued to the main contact for the child.