• Income Support
• Income-Based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related)
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Families in receipt of Child Tax Credit will also qualify provided that (a) they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit, and (b) their annual income, as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs does not exceed £16,190 as at 6 April 2011 (subject to annual review).
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

No other benefits qualify for free school meals.

Applications for free meals should be made directly to the school(s) the children attend.

If your child's school has joined the HC3S 'Hub' free meal checking system, you will only need to provide your name, date of birth and national insurance number (or asylum seeker's security reference), which they will forward to HC3S to be checked via the government system.  (Note: this is only for Hampshire County Council schools.)

If the school hasn't signed up for this, you will need to provide proof of benefit to the school for them to confirm that you are eligible for free meals.

Proof of benefit through one of these routes will be needed before free meals can be authorised.

For more information about free meals in Hampshire, please contact HC3S Catering Support on 023 8062 9388.