Education Benefits
Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM)
Every child in primary school is entitled to a free meal under UPFSM, regardless of parental income.
Free School Meals (eFSM)
eFSM is available for children in schools that are maintained by Flintshire County Council, whose parents are:
- Receiving Universal Credit (UC), with no earned income within UC assessment.
- Receiving UC, with earned income within the UC assessment of £7,400 per year or less (£616.66 per month).
- Receiving the Guaranteed element of Pension Credit.
- Responsible for a ‘Looked after child’ (often know as CLA), or a child in foster care.
- Receiving support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999.
The school your child attends is also awarded £1,150 for every successful eFSM application. It is therefore important that eligible families continue to follow the eFSM application process, so they do not to lose out on other benefits, such as the School essentials Grant (SEG), but also so their school does not miss out on vital funding.
School Essentials Grant (SEG)
If a parent qualifies for eFSM, we will automatically assess School Essentials Grant (SEG) at the same time. You do not need to apply separately.
This has the exact same qualifying criteria as eFSM above. If successful, parents are awarded the following amounts, per child:
- All years except year 7 - £125.00
- Year 7 - £200.00
Please note, SEG cannot be assessed between 1st June to 30th June in any year. It is therefore important that you apply before this period, so you don’t miss out on payment.
Expanded Free School Meals
Welsh Government has introduced a new criteria for the allocation of Free School Meals to learners currently attending school years 7 and 8 in maintained schools. This ‘Expanded Free School Meal’ offer is available to learners from households in receipt of Universal Credit with earnings exceeding the current £7,400 threshold.
We are now processing the new criteria applications, and these meals are available from Flintshire Secondary Schools with immediate effect. Confirmation will be sent to all eligible households and their school upon processing.
Welsh Government are funding this new ‘Expanded’ offer which is for learners in years 7 and 8 only at present with the allowance funding a Free School Meal only, this will not include the School Essentials Grant. It does not replace, vary, or alter any entitlement to Free School Meals arising from the benefit-related eligibility criteria (eFSM) or transitional protection arrangements currently in place.
Apply for eFSM or Expanded Free School Meals here
If you are an Asylum Seeker and/or have no recourse to public funds, please do not try and apply online. Instead, please email us with your name, address, date of birth and contact details, and we will contact you to help you apply.
My child lives in Flintshire but attends school outside of Flintshire. Where do I claim Free School Meals (eFSM) from?
Generally, you must apply to the Council responsible for the school your child attends.
For example, if your child lives in Gronant but attends school in Prestatyn, you must apply to Denbighshire County Council.
Exception: If your child lives in Flintshire but attends school in England (e.g. Chester), special Welsh Government rules introduced in August 2022 allow Flintshire to assess applications for SEG only.
I am a foster carer, can I claim Free School Meals (eFSM) for the child I foster?
Yes - Please follow the link on this page.
When you are filling in the online form, there is an income selection for ‘Foster Allowance’.
My child is enrolled with a Flintshire school but does not attend school for a given reason, such as health issues, disability, exclusion etc. Can I be paid for eFSM instead?
No – eFSM is about the provision of a meal for a child and this is something that Welsh Government (WG) are very firm on.
We may be able to make alterations to meal provisions, such as making a packed lunch available that can be collected by the parent, but this is in exceptional circumstances.
Please contact us if you would like more information about this.
I have a child or another child starting school in September. Will they automatically get free school meals?
If your child is starting reception class in September, they will automatically qualify for the new, Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM).
However, if the parent is in receipt of a certain income (see bullet points above), they must still apply for Free School Meals (eFSM). This is because if they don’t, they won’t be able to access other funding, such as school essentials grant (PDG).
We have more information about this here.
Why is it important to apply?
If you are eligible to receive free school meals (eFSM) it is very important to your child’s school that you apply. The school can access funding for children who qualify for free school meals (eFSM) that will allow them to provide targeted support programs, buy equipment and resources etc.
If your child prefers to take a packed lunch or make other arrangements it is still important to register for free school meals (eFSM) so the school can access funding.
For Enquires
Email: FreeSchoolMeals@flintshire.gov.uk
Automatic School Essentials payment
If you receive Free School Meals (eFSM) and have had School Essentials payment/s from us before, you’ll be paid automatically each academic year for every child paid previously, there is no need to reapply.
Payments are usually made every July when funding is released by the Welsh Government.
Any future changes to this will be updated on this webpage.
Keep your bank details up to date
We can only send payments to the bank account we have against the parent record. If your details are out of date, any future payment may go to a closed or inaccessible account.
To update or check your bank details, please email us at FreeSchoolMeals@flintshire.gov.uk
Please include your full name, address, and National Insurance number in the email.
Why do I have to apply? Can you not just pay me for my children that are eligible?
No. Welsh Government grant conditions require us to receive an application from a parent. Applications must also be retained for audit purposes to evidence eligibility. We also need your bank details to make the payment, which we cannot obtain without an application.
I need more information or I need to check if I’ve claimed before.
We would kindly ask parents to email us at FreeSchoolMeals@flintshire.gov.uk to find out. We aim to respond to emails within 48 hours.
How much money will I get?
All qualifying years except year 7 = £125.00
Year 7 = £200
Why can I not claim for 6th form (years 12 & 13)?
As these years are additional to compulsory years of education, it is not funded by WG.
My child receives the new, Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM). Does this mean I qualify for a School Essentials Grant?
No – We have a webpage that explains why in detail, please look at bullet point 2 on the Free School Meals page.
School Essentials? What does this mean?
Parents may otherwise know this as School Uniform Grant, or Pupil Deprivation Grant. It was re-branded to School Essentials by Welsh Government.
Student Finance Wales now processing all applications
Student Finance Wales, based in Llandudno Junction, is now responsible for processing, assessing and paying student finance for all applications.
For details on how to apply for student finance visit Student Finance Wales.
If you have a query about your student finance account, you should now contact Student Finance Wales on 0300 200 4050.
The Student Finance Wales Twitter pages can also provide information and regular updates.
You may be entitled to some financial support towards the cost of your child’s residential school trip. Please contact your child’s school or look on the school’s website for further details.
Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) provide means-tested financial support for young people aged 16 - 19 in full-time education.
This benefit is administered by the Welsh Assembly Government.
For up to date information, including how to apply, please visit:
Student Finance Wales or contact the relevant High School or College.