Free school meals and clothing grant

Who can apply?

You can apply if your child attends a South Ayrshire Primary or Secondary School and you are in receipt of at least one of the qualifying benefits detailed below.

From 1st February 2025, the Scottish Government have added an additional qualifying criteria for access to free school meals. The change introduced is that families with pupils in P6 or P7 who are in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment can now apply.  If you have already been awarded free school meals on another qualifying benefit, there is no need to reapply. 

Please check that you are in receipt of at least one of the qualifying benefits below prior to submitting an application.

Eligibility criteria for Free School Meals

• Scottish Child Payment for pupils in P6 & P7
• Child Tax Credit where household income is £19,995 or less
• Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit where the household income is £9,552 or less
• Universal Credit where earned income is £796 or less per month
• Income- based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income Support
• Any Income related element of Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Eligibility Criteria for Clothing Grants

• Child Tax Credit where household income is £19,995 or less
• Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit where the household income is £9,552 or less
• Universal Credit where earned income is £796 or less per month
• Income- based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income Support
• Any Income related element of Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Apply for free school meals and clothing grant

If you need help with your application, you can call 0300 123 0900 to speak to one of our customer service advisors.

Free school meals

The Scottish Government have committed to providing a free school meal to all P1 to P5 pupils, however we are requesting that parents/carers who meet the above eligibility criteria submit an application as this information will be used to pay free school meal payments during school holiday periods.

Clothing grant

• The current value of a clothing grant is £120 per primary school pupil and £150 per secondary school pupil where the parent/carer meets the eligibility criteria
• Only one application can be made per child for each school year
• Clothing grants are not available for children attending early year centres
• If your child has passed their official school leaving date, applications will only be processed once they have returned to school in August
• Young people aged 16-18 years old who meet the eligibility criteria in their own right, can also claim clothing grant and free school meals
• Children who attend primary school and receive free school meals will also receive free milk