Is Your Child Entitled To Free School Meals, Uniform and PE Clothing?

Is Your Child Entitled to Free School Meals and/or School Uniform and/or Physical Education Clothing Allowance? Who is entitled? For the 2015-2016 school year Free School Meals and/or School Uniform and/or Physical Education Clothing Allowance can be awarded if you are currently in receipt of one of the following benefits:- * Income Support; or * Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance; or * Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance; or * The Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit; or * Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit with an annual taxable income of £16,190 or less. 0r:- *  if you are an Asylum Seeker supported by the Home Office National Asylum Support Service (NASS); *  if your child has a statement of special educational needs and is designated to require a special diet.

Note:

*  Pupils must be in full-time education at school/college. *  The Education Authority’s Clothing Scheme does not apply to pupils in attendance at Nursery School / Nursery Unit / Reception Class / Independent Schools or to pupils qualifying for Free School Meals under the ‘Special Diet’ criterion.

You can apply for Free School Meals for students at Colleges of Further Education who have not reached 18 years of age on 31 July, provided they are not attending a paid training course. You can apply for a Physical Education Clothing Allowance only if their course includes PE.

What could you save? Many low income families are unaware of their entitlements or indeed the value of claiming these. If entitled, parents/guardians may save annually in excess of £400 per child by receiving Free School Meals and in addition can claim, as applicable, an allowance to the value of £22.00 up to £78.00 per child towards the purchase of a school uniform and/or physical education clothing. Do you know? Your child’s school is given extra funding for children entitled to Free School Meals. It is not necessary for your child to take the meal; the school will still receive the additional funding if your application is successful. When can you apply? Eligible applicants can apply now for Free School Meals and/or School Uniform and/or Physical Education Clothing Allowance for the next school year commencing September 2015. Given the current economic climate and the hardship that many families may face, the Education Authority would encourage parents/guardians to apply for their entitlement. How do you apply? Only one application form is required to be completed which can be obtained by contacting your regional office of this authority or your child’s school. Forms are also available in your local Social Security Office or Citizens Advice Bureau Office.

Information is also available by logging onto:

www.eani.org.uk and clicking on I WANT TO…….

Contact:

Education Authority

Regional Office

Meals and Uniform Section Meals and Uniform Section Education Authority Education Authority Belfast Region South Eastern Region 40 Academy Street Grahamsbridge Road Belfast Belfast BT1 2NQ BT16 2HS

Tel: 028 9056 4239/40 Tel: 028 9056 6200

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Education Authority South Eastern Region 40 Academy Street Grahamsbridge Road Belfast Belfast BT1 2NQ BT16 2HS

Tel: 028 9056 4239/40 Tel: 028 9056 6200.