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Holiday food payments

If your child gets free school meals on financial grounds, you may also be entitled to holiday food payments. These would be paid to your bank account to cover your child's lunch on weekdays during the holidays.

How to qualify

You will be entitled to holiday food payments if you receive any of the following:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Universal Credit if your earned income is not more than £885 per month

If you receive Universal Credit, the eligibility rules for holiday food payments are different from the rules for free school meals.

If your child is in Primary 1 to Primary 5, they will automatically get free school meals. If you are eligible, you can apply below to receive holiday food payments.

How to apply

When you apply for holiday food payments you'll also be applying for free school meals and school clothing grants.

Apply for holiday food payments

You can also:

visit a customer service centre
telephone: 030 33 33 3006
download the free school meals application form

How it's paid to you

Holiday food payments are normally paid by the last day of the school term. The payment is £2.50 for each weekday of the holiday.

Tell us if your details change

If you've changed your bank details since your last payment, let us know:

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 030 33 33 3006