Your child can get a free school meal if you receive any of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (as long as you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and you don't get more than £16,190 a year)
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Universal Credit (with annual earned income of no more than £7,400 after tax and not including any benefits you get).

You can apply immediately via the Hertfordshire County Council website, if you receive any of these benefits. It takes 5 mins and in most cases the County Council can tell you straightaway if your child can get free meals at school.