·         All payments  are made only to parents/carers where a pupil is eligible for Free School Meals.

·         Where a pupil is currently not eligible for Free School Meals and a parent/carers think they may be eligible, the application process must be followed and completed.

·         The retrospective payment for the school holiday period in October was recently agreed by the Scottish Government.

·         The Christmas Holiday payment covers the period for P1-P3 pupils eligible for Free School Meals.

·         As part of the First Minister’s Winter Plan for Social Protection, the Scottish Government announced that a £100 payment per eligible child be made to families in receipt of Free School Meals.

·         Children and young people receiving universal Free School Meal provision – i.e. those in P1-P3 who would not qualify for Free School Meals on low income criteria – are not eligible.

·         It will only cover pupils currently eligible and applications received up until Tues 22^nd December 2020 which are subsequently approved.

·         Payments for any applications received on or before Tuesday 22^nd December 2020 but not yet completed/processed will be made by Friday 15^th January 2021.

If you have any Free School Meals  enquiries please email  FSMAwards@Midlothian.gov.uk

If you have any wider queries about welfare and benefits please see Council website where there are various resources to consider: https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/200296/coronavirus/625/council_tax_benefits_and_welfare