Families can claim free school meal vouchers of up to £30 over Easter holiday break

Families can claim free school meal vouchers to spend at supermarkets that are equivalent to what your child may have been receiving at school.

Parents can claim from £15 to £30 worth of vouchers - but it will vary depending on where you live.

It is advised to approach your local council directly to find out if they can help you cover your food costs this break.

Here’s how much you can claim depending on where you live and who is eligible for the free school meal vouchers.

Who is eligible?

Parents that claim certain benefits are eligible for their children to receive free school meals.

These benefits are:

• Income Support.

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit.

• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190).

• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.

• Universal Credit - if you applied on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get).

This information applies to England as there are different processes in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

If your child already gets free school meals during term time, then you should also be eligible for the vouchers over the holidays.

How much can I claim?

How much you can claim will vary between areas so it is advised to check with your local authority.

Make sure to apply, if you still can, through their website or through the school.

Families across Kirklees could claim vouchers worth £30 to spend over this break, whereas schools in Camden council have issued eligible pupils with weekly shopping vouchers worth £15 to spend over the Easter holidays.

Most councils will have had deadlines of 31 March to apply for this help.

But you can still get in contact with your local authority or directly with your child’s school if you think you have missed out.

Type in your postcode on the Government website and you will be redirected to your local council’s website to apply if the opportunity is still there.

It is not guaranteed you will be able to now claim for this holiday.

Norfolk county council has scrapped the vouchers for this Easter holiday.