If you are on a low income and have children at school, you may be entitled to financial support. You can find out what you may be eligible for and when via the table below.
More information on each grant and how to apply can be found via the links below.
- Best Start Grants
- Apply for free school meals
- Apply for a school clothing grant
- Education Maintenance Allowance
- Carer's Benefits to find out about the Young Carer Grant
- Child and Family Benefits for Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
- Disability Benefits for Child Disability Payments
You can find out what benefits you could be entitled to by using our free online Benefit Calculator.
You can also read the Family Support Leaflet for further information:
| Qualifying Criteria | Best Start Grant | Free School Meals | School Clothing Grant | Education Maintenance Allowance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income Support | Primary School |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
|
| Income Based Employment Support Allowance | Primary School |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
|
| Income Related Employment Support Allowance | Primary School |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
|
| Housing Benefit | Primary School |
|
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
|
| Council Tax Reduction |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
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| Pension Credits | Primary School |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
||
| Child Tax Credits or Working Tax Credits | Primary School | |||
| Both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit with a household income of £7,920 or less |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
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| Child Tax Credit only with an annual income of less than £17,005 |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
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| Universal Credit | Primary School | |||
| Universal Credit with a monthly income of no more than £660 |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
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| Universal Credit, with a single parent/carer working less than 16 hours per week with an annual earned income from employment of less than £17,005 |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
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| Universal Credit, with both parents/carers working less than 24 hours per week with an annual earned income from employment of less than £17,005 |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
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| Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
Primary School Secondary School Staying On |
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| A young person aged 16-19 who attends school for a minimum of 21 guided learning hours per week | Staying On | |||
| The young person qualifies if your household income is £24,421 or less (£26,884 if you have another child under 16 or under 25 in education) | Staying On | |||
| The young person is willing to participate in an approved learning agreement at school | Staying on |