Overview
If you are the parent or guardian of a child in school, they may be eligible for free school meals.
If your child is in primary school, this would include one free lunch a day. For children in secondary school, it includes a daily allowance towards the cost of their lunch.
Information about children receiving free school meals is treated confidentially.
Free school meals have changed
There are now three schemes to provide free school meals to pupils within Monmouthshire.
All children in primary school in Monmouthshire now receive free school meals via the Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) scheme.
The Free School Meals scheme (eFSM) is available to all ages and requires eligible parents and guardians to apply.
From September 2026 the Universal Credit Free School Meals scheme is specifically for Secondary age pupils and requires a separate application.
Apply for eFSM to receive other support
You should still apply for eFSM if you’re eligible, even if your child already receives free school meals via Universal Primary Free School Meals or Universal Credit Free School Meals.
This is because:
- you may be eligible for other support, such as up to £200 via the School Essentials Grant
- your school could get more funding
eFSM Eligibility
You may be eligible if you are a parent or guardian of a child in school, and you receive one of these benefits:
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance (Income-related)
- Child Tax Credit (you are not eligible if you also receive Working Tax Credit)
- Pension Credit
- Help under Immigration and Asylum Seekers Act 1999
- Universal Credit
If you receive Universal Credit, your household earnings must be less than £7,400 a year after tax. This does not include any income from benefits. If your income is above this level, you may be able to claim via the new Universal Credit Free School Meals scheme instead.
Apply for free school meals for your child
Make an application for eFSM if you are eligible, even if your child already receives free school meals via Universal Primary Free School Meals or Universal Credit Free School Meals.
You can apply any time.
To apply, you will need your:
- contact details
- child’s details
- child’s school name
- National Insurance number (if available)
What happens next?
You will get an email from us to confirm if and when your child will start receiving free school meals.
Expanding access to Free School Meals to Secondary aged learners from households in receipt of Universal Credit
From September 2026 the Welsh Government is expanding free school meals to all secondary school pupils in households receiving Universal Credit, with no income limit, starting with children in years 7 & 8. This is called ” Universal Credit Free School Meals”.
Within Monmouthshire we will be welcoming applications from 21st of September 2026 with meals served to newly eligible learners from 1st of October 2026.
Parents whose children receive Universal Credit Free School Meals only will not be eligible for the Schools Essentials Grant.
Apply for Universal Credit Free School Meals
You can apply any time.
To apply, you will need your:
- contact details
- child’s details
- child’s school name
- National Insurance number (if available)
- A screenshot of your UC journal
What happens next?
You will get an email from us to confirm if and when your child will start receiving free school meals. Access to these meals will remain in place for the remainder of the academic year. You will then need to apply for your child to receive meals in the following academic year if you are still in receipt of Universal Credit.
Contact
If you have any questions about your application or need help to apply, you can:
You can also contact your school if you have any questions or need help applying.
The shared benefit service at Torfaen Council are dealing with free school meals on behalf of the Authority. You can view the full privacy notice here which will provide further details on how your information is managed.
The Shared Benefit Service can be contacted on 01633 644644 or emailed at benefits@monmouthshire.gov.uk