Is the cost of living crisis affecting you?
Make sure you’re getting the help you're entitled to.
Visit our siteService Update
Applications for School Clothing Grants and Free School Meals for the 2025/26 school year are now open.
We can provide free school meals and a school clothing grant if you are on a low income. The school clothing grant is £130 per child for primary school pupils and £160 per child for high school pupils.
To qualify for free school meals and a school clothing grant you must receive one of the following:
- Income Support
- Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based)
- Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related)
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
- Universal Credit, with monthly earned income of not more than £850
- Scottish Child Payment for a child in primary 6 or 7 and S1 to S3 (free school meals only)
- Universal Credit, with monthly earned income of not more than £1,778 (school clothing grant only)
You can also receive free school meals and clothing grant if you care for a child as part of a kinship care agreement.
Free School Meals – Scottish Child Payment
Pupils in Primary 6 and 7 whose parent or carer receives Scottish Child Payment for them are eligible for free school meals.
From August 2025, we are part of a Scottish Government pilot extending free school meals to pupils in S1, S2 and S3 whose parent or carer receives Scottish Child Payment. You can apply now.
You will need to provide evidence of your Scottish Child Payment award along with your application. This should be an official letter from Social Security Scotland, confirming your award.
Children who receive free school meals on this basis are not entitled to receive a payment in lieu of school meals during school holiday periods.
All children in primary 1-5 can receive a free school meal without an application however, you must still apply to receive free school milk and a school clothing grant.
During Summer holidays
Parents and carers of children who receive Free School Meals based on benefit entitlement will get a payment of £12.50 per week (£2.50 per day), per child for the Summer holidays.
Children in Primary 6 or 7 receiving Free School Meals based on Scottish Child Payment will not receive this payment.
Scottish Child Payment
Scottish Child Payment applications are now open for children aged 6 – 15.
It is important that you make your application as soon as possible. If you already receive Scottish Child Payment for a child under 6 but you have older children you must contact Social Security Scotland to let them know.
You can apply online at Scottish Government - Scottish Child Payment which should take around 10 to 20 minutes in total. Before applying, you'll need:
- the dates of birth of any children you have
- your partner's details, if you have a partner
- your bank details, if you have an account
If you cannot apply online, you can apply by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222. Please be aware that lines may be busy, due to the number of children and families who are newly eligible for this benefit, therefore it may take longer than normal for calls to be answered.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Applications for the new school year (2025/2026) opened on 1 May 2025.
Back To TopWe can provide free school meals and a school clothing grant if you are on a low income. The school clothing grant is £130.00 per child for primary school pupils and £160.00 per child for high school pupils.
Back To TopThe first date a school clothing grant will be paid for the 2025/26 session is 26 June 2025. For applications processed after this date, payment will be made the following week.
Back To TopYou can apply using the online form available on this page.
Back To TopIf you need help completing the application form you can contact us:
- Online: Contact Council Tax Enquiries online or
- Tel: 03451 55 11 55
If you are entitled to a school clothing grant, a payment will be made direct into your bank account. If you are entitled to Free School Meals, we will notify your child’s school.
If we require further information to support your application, we will contact you.
If you are not entitled to receive Free School Meals and/or School Clothing Grant, we will notify you of this by email or post.
We aim to process your application within 5 working days of receiving it. If you require an update on your application, you can contact us:
- Online: Contact Council Tax Enquiries online or
- Tel: 03451 55 11 55
It depends on individual circumstances. If you have child starting primary 1 or a child old enough to leave school this summer, you will need to apply for them to confirm they will be starting/returning to school.
If your child is in primary 6 or 7 and receives free school meals based on Scottish Child Payment, then you will need to apply for them for the new school year.
If you receive a letter from us confirming you will receive a payment/s for all your children, then you do not have to reapply. If you do not receive a letter from us confirming you will receive this grant, then you will need to reapply.
Back To TopIf your child/children receive free school meals, you must notify us of any changes to your household details. For example, if:
- you change address
- you change your bank details
- your child changes school
- your child leaves school
You can report a change:
- Online: Contact Council Tax Enquiries online or
- Tel: 03451 55 11 55
Yes, you will need to apply for your youngest who's starting school this year. You need to apply even if you have older children who you receive the payment for. Generally, when we write to you to confirm that you will receive a payment for your older child/ren, the letter will also say that you need to apply for any child/ren not included on it.
Back To TopIf you apply before 1st May for the term starting after the summer, then yes you will need to reapply.
Back To TopOnce you’ve applied you will need to provide evidence to support your claim. This should be the most up-to-date, original, award letter for the benefit you receive.
The options for providing evidence are:
- upload it
- email it to benctax@fife.gov.uk
- send to the Benefits and Council Tax team at PO Box 18015, Bankhead Central 2, Bankhead Place, Glenrothes, Fife, KY7 6GH
You don't need to provide evidence of income if you already receive:
- Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction.
Yes, we will post your original documents back to you via Royal Mail 2nd class post.
Back To TopFor more information on managing your benefits, living on a budget or help to find work, please see our Benefits Section.
