Free school meals and milk

• Income Support

• Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance

• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance

• support under part VI of the Immigration Act 1999

• the guarantee element of State Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) that as of 6 April 2009 does not exceed £16,040.

Children who receive Income Support or Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals.

Contact your child's school for more details and a form to fill in.

To find out whether you are entitled to claim any benefits call our welfare benefits helpline on 0845 120 2985 or visit our welfare benefits (opens in a new window) pages.

Financial assistance for post-16 students

Post-16 students can apply for an Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) if their household income is £30,810 or less and they stay on at school, college or a training provider to study courses such as GCSEs, NVQs, AS/A2, A levels, e2e programmes and courses leading to apprenticeships.

Household income thresholds on which students will be able to claim EMA are as follows:

• Up to £20,817 - £30 EMA per week

• Between £20,818 and £25,521 - £20 EMA per week

• Between £25,522 and £30,810 - £10 EMA per week

Full details of the scheme and how to apply, can be obtained from schools, colleges and Connexions on freephone 0800 269468.

You can also get further information on EMA by telephoning the helpline for young people and parents at 0808 1016219 or alternatively, you can find the information on the EMA website (opens in a new window).