Apply now for money to help with cost of living
You can get money to help with the cost of food, bills and other essentials through the Household Support Fund. Families with children who receive means-tested free school meals should apply for Holiday Food Vouchers. You’ll get £20 per week, per child, during the school holidays, so apply now in time for this year’s summer holidays,
If you have successfully applied for Holiday Food Vouchers since April 2023, you do not need to reapply
Everyone else should apply for a Household Support Grant if they’re struggling. Get £70 or £140 depending on your situation. Support is available to households who feel they are struggling with rising costs of living as well as people in receipt of benefits.
How registering for free school meals helps us
We want to make sure we are providing your child with the best education and support we can. Healthy school food has obvious benefits and can help pupils establish healthy habits for life and can also help to improve pupils’ readiness to learn.
Families who receive certain benefits may be eligible for free school meals. To qualify, your child must be in school and you must be receiving one of the following benefits:
- Income support
- Income based Job Seekers Allowance
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance
- NASS support
- Guarantee element of State Pension
- Child Tax Credit, provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
- Working Tax Creditfor the four weeks after employment ends
- Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400
If this applies to you but your child isn’t registered for free school meals, complete a form and return it to your child’s school.
Download the form and apply for Free School Meals on Wokingham Borough Council’s website.