Free School Meals, Free School Meals Holiday Payments, and Clothing Grants
Depending on your household income and circumstances, Falkirk Council can provide support with the following:
- Free School Meals - free lunches during term-time
- Free School Meals Holiday Payments - payments made to help with the cost of lunches during school holidays
- Clothing Grant awards - a one-off payment towards the cost of school clothing and footwear.
The help available depends on your child's age and your household income and circumstances.
The information below explains what support you may be entitled to and how to apply.
Entitlement Summary
The below table provides a basic summary of entitlement to means-tested Free School Meals, Free School Meals Holiday Payments, and Clothing Grants.
For more detailed information please refer to the information below.
| Your income | Means-tested Free School Meals | Free School Meals Holiday Payments | Clothing Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Support | yes | yes | yes |
| Income-based Jobseekers Allowance | yes | yes | yes |
| Income related Employment and Support Allowance | yes | yes | yes |
| Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 | yes | yes | yes |
| Pension Credit | yes | no | yes |
| Universal Credit with monthly earned income of not more than £885 | yes | yes | yes |
| Universal Credit with monthly earned income between £885 and £995 | yes | no | yes |
| Universal Credit with monthly earned income between £995 and £1,936 | no | no | yes |
| Universal Credit with monthly earned income of more than £1,936* | no | no | no |
*If you are claiming Universal Credit with monthly earned income of more than £1,936 you can still receive Universal Free School Meals, and/or Free School Meals for Primary 6/7 pupils due to receiving the Scottish Child Payment. See above.
Free School Meals
What are Free School Meals?
Free School Meals provide free lunches during term-time for eligible pupils.
There are different types of Free School Meals available:
Universal Free School Meals
All pupils attending Primary 1 to Primary 5 are entitled to Universal Free School Meals during term-time, regardless of household income.
Pupils attending eligible Additional Support Needs Schools are also entitled to Universal Free School Meals during term-time, regardless of household income.
No application is required for Universal Free School Meals as entitlement is automatic.
Important: Even if your child already receives Universal Free School Meals, you should still apply if you think you qualify for Means-Tested Free School Meals. This allows us to assess entitlement to Clothing Grants and Free School Meals Holiday Payments.
Important: Pupils receiving Universal Free School Meals only do not qualify for Free School Meals Holiday Payments.
Means-Tested Free School Meals
Children of any school age may qualify for Means-Tested Free School Meals if the household receives certain benefits or is on a lower income.
Who is Eligible?
You may qualify if you receive:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit with monthly earned income not more than £885
- Universal Credit with monthly earned income between £885 and £995
Please note - Pupils aged 16 to 18 can apply in their own right if they receive a qualifying benefit.
How to apply
You can apply online using the link below:
Applications for Free School Meals can be made at any time during the school year.
Primary 6 and Primary 7 Pupils Receiving Scottish Child Payment
While the Scottish Government intends to extend Universal Free School Meals to Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils, this has not yet been implemented.
In the meantime, children in Primary 6 or Primary 7 whose parent or guardian receives Scottish Child Payment may qualify for Free School Meals during term-time.
Important: Pupils receiving Free School Meals through Scottish Child Payment eligibility do not qualify for Free School Meals Holiday Payments.
How to Apply
Entitlement is awarded automatically in most cases where possible, but applications can also be submitted using the Free School Meals and Clothing Grant application form if necessary.
Applications for Free School Meals can be made at any time during the school year.
You can apply online using the link below:
Free School Meals Holiday Payments
What are Free School Meals Holiday Payments?
Free School Meals Holiday Payments provide financial support to eligible families during school holiday periods.
Payments are intended to help families with the additional cost of providing meals when schools are closed.
Who is Eligible?
You may qualify if you receive:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Universal Credit with monthly earned income not more than £885
Important: the qualifying criteria for Free School Meals Holiday Payments is not the same as the means-tested Free School Meals entitlement highlighted above.
You will not receive Free School Meals Holiday Payments if you have been approved for Means-Tested Free School Meals based on the following criteria:
- Universal Credit with monthly earned income between £885 and £995
- Pension Credit
You will also not receive the Free School Meals Holiday Payments if you receive:
- Universal Free School Meals; or
- Free School Meals through Scottish Child Payment eligibility (Primary 6 and Primary 7)
When are Payments Made?
Payments are generally made shortly before the relevant school holiday is due to begin.
The table below details the payment dates and values for the current school year:
| School Holiday Period | Amount | Date payment to be made |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (Monday 12 October to Friday 23 October) |
£25 | Friday 09 October 2026 |
| Christmas 2026 (Wednesday 23 December to Monday 04 January) |
£22.50 | Friday 18 December 2026 |
| February 2027 (Friday 12 February to Monday 15 February) |
£5 | Wednesday 10 February 2027 |
| Easter 2027 (Monday 05 April to Friday 16 April) |
£25 | Friday 02 April 2027 |
| Summer 2027 (To be confirmed) |
TBC | TBC |
How are Payments Made?
Holiday Payments are normally made directly to the bank account held on your Free School Meals and Clothing Grant application, or by cheque if no bank details are held.
If you need to update your bank details at any time, please complete the following online form
How to Apply
Entitlement to Free School Meals Holidays payments is assessed as part of the application for Free School Meals and Clothing Grants.
Applications can be made at any time during the school year.
You can apply online using:
Clothing Grants
What is a Clothing Grant?
A Clothing Grant is a payment to help with the cost of purchasing school clothing and footwear for eligible pupils attending school.
The grant is paid once per school year for each eligible child.
Who Can Get a Clothing Grant?
You may qualify for a Clothing Grant if you are responsible for a child attending school and receive one of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit where monthly earned income does not exceed £1,936
Important: Children who are of school leaving age (i.e their 16th Birthday falls on or before 30th September during the school year) are not eligible to receive an award of Clothing Grant. However, they can apply for Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) instead.
How Much is the Clothing Grant?
Current Clothing Grant rates are as follows:
| School Year 2026/2027 | Clothing Grant Award Value per Pupil |
|---|---|
| Primary School Pupils | £135.00 |
| Secondary School Pupils | £165.00 |
How are payments made?
Clothing Grants are normally paid directly into the bank account provided on your application.
If you need to update your bank details at any time, please complete the following online form
How to Apply
Applications for Clothing Grants are made using the same application form used for Means-Tested Free School Meals.
The deadline for applications for the 2026/2027 school year is 31st March 2027.
Additional Information
Further information about Free School Meals and Clothing Grants can be found on our frequently asked questions pages. They contain a variety of information regarding applications, payments and more.
How to provide Supporting Evidence
Once we have assessed your application we may sometimes ask you to provide additional supporting evidence.
You can upload the evidence requested by using our online post box here:
If you have any queries regarding any of the above you can contact us as follows: