Free school meals (eFSM) and Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) - Understanding the Difference

Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) - It is Welsh Government’s aim that every child in primary school in Wales will be eligible for a universal primary free school meal (UPFSM) by 2024, regardless of household income. There will be no forms to fill in. 

Receiving a UPFSM in this way does not automatically entitle families to receive other benefits such as school essentials grants.  

For more information on UPFSM go to Universal Primary Free School Meals

Free School Meals (eFSM) - Some families who meet certain criteria, for example those on lower incomes or in receipt of certain benefits, are entitled to receive a free school meal (eFSM).  

On a successful application for eFSM families are then eligible for other benefits to cover the cost of school essentials such as school essentials grants (PDG). 

Even though the roll out of UPFSM will begin in September 2022, and eligible year groups will begin to receive free school meals, families who are eligible for eFSM should continue to use the eFSM application process to ensure they don't lose out on other benefits. 

What is Free School Meals (eFSM) Policy?

Free school meals (eFSM) will be provided for pupils whose parents receive:

• Income Support,
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance,
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999,
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance,
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and their annual income does not exceed £16,190,
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit,
• Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit.
• Universal credit(If earned income is included in the assessment of UC it must be less than £616.66).

How do I apply for eFSM?

You must complete an online form to apply for free school meals (eFSM).

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?

This is an area where we receive many queries.  Our grant conditions for Free School Meal (eFSM) funding tell us that the Council responsible for the school where the child attends is where the parent should claim from. 

As an example, if a child lives in Gronant (Flintshire) but attends a school in Prestatyn (Denbighshire), Free School Meals (eFSM) funding would be the responsibility of Denbighshire County Council so the parent must apply to Denbighshire. This is exactly the same for school essentials grant (PDG).

However, if a child lives in Flintshire but attends school in a neighbouring, English County (such as Chester), then we have special conditions from Welsh Government introduced in August 2022 that allow us to assess such cases. 

Please note, as this change was made in August 2022, Welsh Government have told us that we cannot overturn refusals for this reason from prior years.  We would therefore appreciate parents understanding in this regard and refrain from asking us to overturn previous decisions.

I should have applied earlier and have missed out on payments for holidays as a result.  If I apply now, can it be backdated?

Unfortunately not. The policy that governs Free School Meals (eFSM) expressly states that backdating is not permitted.

We often receive queries and complaints in this area but regret that we have no discretion to award backdating.

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

Please read these carefully before applying.

You can apply for School Essentials for children starting any of the following years in September 2025:

Reception, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

Looked after (foster care) children can qualify in any of the above years.

School Essentials is also available to eligible parents of children in a special school, special needs resource base, pupil referral unit (PRU) or children who are ‘Educated otherwise than at school’ (EOTAS – Must have been arranged by the Local Authority).

In order to be eligible to apply, parents must already be in receipt of, or applying for Free School Meals (eFSM) based on the following income;

• Income Support,
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance,
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999,
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, 
• Child Tax Credit,
• Provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and their annual income does not exceed £16,190, 
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit,
• Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit. 
• Universal credit (If earned income is included in the assessment of UC it must be less than £616.66)

The Funding is also available to all looked after children (Foster Care) of compulsory school age and pupils with no recourse to public funds.

For Enquires Email: FreeSchoolMeals@flintshire.gov.uk

You must complete an online form to apply for School Essentials grants.

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.

Why do I have to apply? Can you not just pay me for my children that are eligible?

No – The grants we administer are funded by WG and our grant conditions confirm we have to receive an application from the parent.

We also have to retain these for audit purposes and to prove we are paying only for children whose parents meet the eligibility criteria. 

We also need to be able to obtain parents bank account details, to enable us to pay the grant money to them. 

We cannot do this without an application form.

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 6^th 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.