Renfrewshire Council

Free school meals and clothing grants

You may be able to apply for free school meals and a clothing grant if you are a parent or guardian of a child and are in receipt of particular benefits.

On this page:


What is included in free school meals

This gives your child one free meal on every day that they are at school.

All children in primary class 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 (P1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) and children at Additional Support Needs (ASN) schools get a universal school meal free of charge every day at school.

If your child, or the child you care for, is in Primary 6 or above, you can apply for a clothing grant or free school meals

You can apply for free school meals at any time in the school year. You only need to apply once in each school year.

Free school meal applications received now are only paid from the date the application is processed. The payment is not backdated.


Free school meal payments during the holidays

If your child is in P1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and you are on specific benefits mentioned, you need to apply to get a payment during the school holidays. Free school meal payments during school holidays.

If your child is in P6, P7 or secondary school and they get free school meals, you will get the payment automatically.

If your child gets a school meal because they are in primary 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 or at an Additional Support Needs (ASN) school, you will only get the payment if:

  • they are entitled to a free school meal on the basis of low income (family on certain benefits)
  • you have applied for free school meals for this school year (August 2024 to June 2025).

What a clothing grant is

A clothing grant is a payment to help you buy school uniforms. If you qualify, we'll give you one grant for each child during any school year. Unfortunately, you cannot apply for a clothing grant for nursery children.

The clothing grant is £120 per eligible primary school pupil and £150 per eligible secondary school pupil. 

You'll also get an extra winter payment of £50 for each child receiving school clothing grant to help buy winter clothing. This payment will be paid again this winter (2024).


Who can apply for clothing grants and free school meals

You can apply for free school meals and or clothing grants if:

  • your child, or the child you care for, goes to a Renfrewshire primary, secondary or special school
  • you receive specific benefits, see the table below.
What benefits apply
Benefit receivedFree school mealsClothing grantProof required
Dated within the past 6 months
Income SupportYesYesDWP award letter or current Tax Credit Award Notice (TC602) which
shows entitlement to this benefit. All pages required
Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based)YesYesDWP award letter or current Tax Credit Award Notice (TC602) which
shows entitlement to this benefit. All pages required
Employment and Support Allowance
(Income Related)
YesYesDWP award letter or current Tax Credit Award Notice (TC602) which
shows entitlement to this benefit. All pages required
Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £19,995YesYesCurrent Tax Credit Award Notice (TC602). All pages required
Both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and have an annual income of up to £9,552YesYesCurrent Tax Credit Award Notice (TC602). All pages required
Support Under part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999YesYes

Confirmation Letter/Home Office

Universal Credit with a monthly earned income of not more than £796YesYesUniversal Credit awards notice 
Housing BenefitNoYesCurrent Letter to show receipt of Housing Benefit
Council Tax reductionNoYesCurrent Letter to show receipt of Council Tax reduction

What evidence you need to provide

Have a look at the table above for details of the proof you need to give us to support your application.

All Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and Housing Benefit/Council Tax award letters must be dated within the past six months.

If you need a copy of your award letter, you can contact the relevant government department:


Apply for a clothing grant or free school meals

Applications open on Monday 3 June 2024, for the school year August 2024 to June 2025.

You can apply online for a clothing grant and free school meals.

You must attach the proof of benefits you currently receive and include the supporting evidence asked for on the form.

If you apply by 12 July with all the correct documents, you'll get a payment before the children go back to school.

You only need to apply once in each school year.

Applications close for clothing grants on 31 March 2025 and for free school meals on 31 May 2025.


Clothing grant payments are made by faster payment direct to your bank account.

If you don't have a bank account yourself, you can use a trusted account (e.g. a relative) as this will ensure payment is received quickly.  It also allows you to receive ongoing payments for Free School Meals while schools are operating with coronavirus restrictions.

If your child is 16 (before 30 September) and could leave school after June, you can still apply for a clothing grant and free school meals for them. 

If you are applying for a child who has never attended a Renfrewshire Council nursery or school before, we must wait until that child is enrolled before processing your application. 


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