Free School Meals

Payments to assist with meals during the Spring Break will be £30.00 per child. This includes a payment for the closure days due to national strike action up to and including 1st March 2023.

Pupils affected by the recent targeted strikes in the Southside of the City will receive an additional payment. Pupils who were notified their classes were available as normal and chose not to attend, will not be eligible for this payment.

This will not apply to Early years establishments. 

You will automatically receive the Spring payment directly into your account if you are still eligible and meet the criteria below - you DO NOT need to contact us or make a new application.

All P1 to P5 pupils receive the universal meal at school however only the families eligible on financial grounds will receive this additional payment.

If your child has enrolled into P1 this year and you think you are entitled for free school meals you must apply if not already done so.

Payments will be made from 24^th March 2023.

For more information see under Free School Meals / Breakfast Club section.

 

The Scottish Child Payment

The Scottish Child Payment of £25 per week is now available for eligible children up to the age of 15.

If you are eligible for the Scottish Child Payment, you should apply for it as soon as possible. Delaying your application may result in you losing out on money you would otherwise be entitled to.

You should apply for Scottish Child Payment if you:

• receive a low-income benefit such as Universal Credit, Tax Credits, or Pension Credit
• have responsibility for a child or children under the age of 16
• live in Scotland

Given the large number of children who will become eligible for the Scottish Child Payment it means that people applying for the first time might need to wait longer than usual to get their award. However, you should not delay making your application. Successful applications will only be awarded from the date they are received.

Eligible families and carers can find out more and apply at online at www.mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment or by calling Social Security Scotland on free on 0800 182 2222.

Free School Meal/Breakfast Club

Important

If you are currently not in receipt of free school meals and think you are entitled, please access the application by clicking this link Application Form Link

Applications received by 10^th March 2023 and meet the criteria will be paid the grant on 24^th March 2023

Applications received from 11^th March 2023 and meet the criteria will be paid within 3 weeks of receipt of the fully completed form.

Applications received from 1^st April 2023 and meet the criteria will only receive Free school meal and not the additional payment for the Spring break.

Please do not make contact with the team until after these dates

Changes to bank account details can be made by completing our online enquiry form, clicking here Enquiry Form 

Please check the qualifying benefits below before applying.

Free School Meal Eligible Benefits

Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance - please enclose a copy of your award letter dated within the past 3 months.

• Both Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit with a household income of £7920 or less - please provide a copy of your 2022/2023 award letter detailing your child(ren)'s names and your annual income.
   
• Universal Credit with a monthly earned income of not more than £660- please supply a copy of your most recent statement or screen print showing your 'pay for the period'.
   
• Child Tax Credit only with an annual income of less than £17,005 - please provide a copy of your 2022/2023 Child Tax Credit award letter detailing your child(ren)'s names and your annual income.
   
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance - please provide a copy of your award letter dated within the past 3 months.

Asylum Seeker, receiving support under part IV of the Immigration Act 1999. Please provide a valid/current Application Registration Card (ARC), BAIL201 Letter or Mears Tenancy Agreement.

Who is eligible for a clothing grant?

Families on low incomes may be eligible to receive a School Clothing Grant award of £120 for a Primary aged child or £150 for a Secondary aged child. The award is given annually to assist with the cost of purchasing essential school clothing for families who are on a qualifying benefit. 

You may be eligible for a school clothing grant if you have a child that attends a Glasgow school, and you receive any of the following benefits:

•  Housing Benefit / Council Tax Reduction (this is not Council Tax single person's discount or student discount)

•  Universal Credit (UC), and your monthly take home pay is £660 or less.

•  Income Support/Income based Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA) or any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

•  Child Tax Credits only (CTC) with an annual income of less than £17,005

•  Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit with an annual income of less than £17,005

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

Please refer to the  guidance notes [1Mb] for help with documentation requirements. You may also qualify for free school meals - see below for full eligibility criteria.

 

When will the award be paid to me?

The processing timescale for new applicants is 3 weeks. It is important all your information is up to date, if not this will delay payments.

If we do not have your up to date bank account details, you must complete an online enquiry form.

ApparelXchange

ApparelXchange are a social enterprise dedicated to reuse, repair & recycling for childrenswear, with a mission to reduce the impact of clothing on the planet. 

They sell high-quality preloved children's clothing, including uniforms, at highly affordable prices. 

They also offer free clothing to families when times get challenging. Find out more and shop for affordable uniform at the AXC website.

FAQ

Will I receive the grant payment automatically?

Clothing Grant payments will be made automatically for families who are currently in receipt of Council Tax Reduction and their children are detailed on their claim. You do not need to re-apply.

If you have received a letter from us recently advising you to submit an application for a clothing Grant, this is because the process has changed for you and you must apply - you will not receive the grant automatically.

If your bank account has changed you must let us know to avoid any delays. Please submit an enquiry form to update your bank account details, these details cannot be taken over the telephone.

When will I get paid?

The processing timescale for new applicants is 2 weeks. It is important all your information is up to date, if not this will delay payments.

Do I qualify for free school meals if I am entitled to a Clothing Grant?

Not necessarily, you would only be entitled if you meet the criteria for both. Please refer to the eligibility criteria for free school meals on the web page.  

I have not received free school meals?

If you have allowed the given timescales and not received confirmation, please complete an online enquiry form

My child is starting Primary 1, do I need to apply?

We have matched data from the P1 enrolment exercise to allow for automated payments however if your child is not included in your CTR claim we will not have captured them, and you may need to apply. If your child is on your claim and you have allowed the given timescales please complete an online enquiry form.

My child is moving to another school, do I need to re-apply?

If your child is moving from one Glasgow school to another Glasgow school this should be automatic and no need to apply. If you live out with Glasgow then you need to apply to the relevant local authority for the school your child is moving to.

I need to update my bank details/address

Please complete the online enquiry form, and select preferred option from the drop down list.  We are unable to accept changes of bank details over the telephone.

How do I access my Parent Pay?

Any questions relating to Parent pay must be made via the school as this is not managed by ourselves.

 

 

Live Chat

Glasgow City Council's Live chat is available during office hours for you to direct Free School meals additional payment enquiries to live chat agents. Live Chat has been designed to help you navigate our website and to answer general queries. If your enquiry is more complex, you may be asked to contact us via our digital services or by telephone or email. When you access or use our live chat software, we will only ask you to provide the minimum amount of personal information necessary to assist you. At the end of your chat, you will be asked to complete a short survey about your experience. We will use this feedback to help improve and develop our live chat service. You can find out more about how we use the data you provide during live chat in our privacy statement. 

 

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