Renfrewshire Council

What the payment includes

If you're a parent or carer with a child in primary and secondary school who gets a free school meal due to family circumstances (on certain benefits), you'll get a payment to cover the school holidays.

October break free school meals payment 

£14.10 per child will be paid directly into bank accounts by Friday 11 October 2024. 

This is based on a payment of £2.35 per weekday per child and covers the 5 days of the October break and the in-service day. 

You do not need to apply again to get this payment.  

Who will get the payments

If your child is in P6, P7 or secondary school and they get free school meals, you'll get the payment automatically.

If your child gets a school meal because they are in primary 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, you'll only get the payment if:

• they're entitled to a free school meal on the basis of low income (family on certain benefits)
• you've applied for free school meals for this school year (August 2023 to June 2024).

If you've already applied for free school meals this school year, you do not need to apply again. 

Find out about what payments you could get for your child including:

Free school meals

If you haven't applied for free school meals and you think your child is eligible, you can apply online. You can check if you qualify for free school meals.

You only need to apply once in each school year.

Money, benefits and financial help

Find out on mygov.scot about what benefits you could get for your family including:

• Scottish Child Payment, a four-weekly payment to help with costs for children under 16
• School Age Payment, a one off payment for when children normally start school.

You can also speak to our Advice Works team who can give you free and confidential help and support on debt, money, bills, or other financial worries or questions you may have.