Free School Meals
Are you eligible for free school meal support?
If you or your child is receiving any of the following benefits you may be eligible for free school meals.
- Income support
- Income based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income related Employment Support Allowance
- Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and have an annual income of less than £16,190
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit (your household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax and not including any benefits you receive)
If it is confirmed that your child is entitled to free school meals, they will remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they are in on 31 March 2025.
There will be no need to inform your school or the council if your personal circumstances change.
Parents should use this link to make an application:
Free school meals | School support | The London Borough Of Havering
Please click here for the link to the Havering Family Services Hub.
Help with Food
Food banks can provide you with free food and other essential items. Visit Trussell Trust to find a local food bank please visit: www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank
Food Bank Vouchers
The food bank work with frontline care agencies that identify people in crisis and issue them with a food bank voucher.
There are three food banks in the borough.
Collier Row food bank- www.collierrowromford.foodbank.org.uk
Harold Hill food bank- www.haroldhill.foodbank.org.uk
Rainham food bank - www.rainham.foodbank.org.uk
The Food Pantry
The link below allows anyone to sign up to become a member. Which will enable them to be able to access the Community Food Shop at the Harold Hill Community Hub on Tuesday and Thursday from 1pm - 4:30pm. Please visit the link listed below.
Are you eligible for free school meal support while in reception, year 1 and 2 and beyond?
If you or your child are receiving any of the following benefits, you may be eligible for free school meals after year 6 but also for extra support whilst in reception and in years 1 to 6.
- Universal Credit (Opens in new tab) (your household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax and not including any benefits you receive)
- Income support (Opens in new tab)
- Income based Jobseekers Allowance (Opens in new tab)
- Income related Employment Support Allowance (Opens in new tab)
- Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit (Opens in new tab)
- Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and have an annual income of less than £16,190 (Opens in new tab)
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (Opens in new tab)
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit (Opens in new tab)
If it is confirmed that your child is entitled to free school meals, they will remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they are in on 31 March 2025.
There will be no need to inform your school or the council if your personal circumstances change.
Apply for free school meals - Free School Meals (servelec-synergy.com)