British parents are urged to check eligibility for school meals worth £495.

According to The Sun: Parents are urged to check if their children are eligible for the important school benefit of £495.

Children whose parents receive certain social benefits, such as Universal Credit, may be entitled to free school meals in the new school year.

All children from reception to year two – usually aged four to seven – automatically receive free school meals.

However, if your child is over three years old, you will need to apply for this benefit and meet certain criteria.

Your child may receive free meals if you are receiving any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Section VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (as long as you're not entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual gross income does not exceed £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit - limited (paid for 4 weeks after losing entitlement to Working Tax Credit)
• Universal Credit - if you applied after April 1, 2018, your household income must be less than £7,400 (after tax and not including other benefits)

If you live in England and want to apply, you should visit your local authority's website for more information.

In Wales, all primary school children are entitled to free school meals, regardless of their parents' income, and in Scotland, all children aged four to nine also receive this benefit.

Shropshire is one of the local councils urging parents to check if their children can receive free meals.

Shropshire Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Education Andy Hall said:

“Parents and guardians in Shropshire who are entitled to free school meals are urged to apply for this program and ensure their children receive the proper support.”

“Free school meals can save families over £495 a year per child, which amounts to about £13 a week during the school year.”

“These meals provide children with healthy and nutritious options that contribute to their learning and wellbeing.”

More children to receive free school meals

The government announced in June that an additional half a million children will be able to receive free school meals from next year.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in her Budget Review that every child in a household receiving Universal Credit will receive this benefit.

Currently, households with Universal Credit must earn less than £7,400 a year to be eligible for this benefit.

This move, according to the Department for Education, could save parents receiving assistance about £500 a year.

Children in households receiving Universal Credit who currently do not qualify for meals will be able to start receiving them at the beginning of the 2026 school year.

This benefit will apply to all institutions where free school meals are available, including school nurseries and higher education institutions.

Other available support

You are entitled to child support if you are responsible for raising a child who is under 16 or under 20 if they are in an approved institution.

This benefit helps parents cover the costs of childcare.

It is paid at two weekly rates - £26.05 for your eldest or only child and £17.25 for any additional children.

Payments are usually made every four weeks, on a Monday or Tuesday, although they are sometimes paid weekly as well.

If you are receiving child benefit for a child under 12, you will also receive National Insurance credits.

NI credits are taken into account when calculating your State Pension, so receiving this benefit may be useful if you missed it.

Parents may also receive help with free food vouchers through the government Household Support Fund.

Additionally, you may receive assistance with school meals during vacation through the 'Holiday Activities and Food' (HAF) program that costs hundreds of pounds.

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It is important for parents to pay attention to opportunities for receiving free school meals as it can significantly alleviate financial burden on families. Delaying the application may result in losing important benefits that ensure access to quality meals at school for children, which in turn positively impacts their learning process and wellbeing.