27.5.21  IMPORTANT CHANGE FROM EDUCATION AUTHORITY RE FREE MEALS AND UNIFORMS ***

***PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AS THIS APPLIES TO THOSE ALREADY REGISTERED AS FREE SCHOOL MEALS AS WELL AS NEW APPLICANTS ***

Many thanks 
E Quinn
____________________________________________

The Education Authority (EA) will be issuing communications on the EA website and social media
channels to inform parents/ guardians and continues to seek your support to promote awareness
of Free School Meals and Clothing Allowances, and to encourage all potential applicants to apply
for the support available.

***Current Eligible Families and New Applicants***
Parents/guardians who are currently in receipt of support for the 2020/21 school year will not be
sent a pre-populated form for the 2021/22 school year. All parents/ guardians (including new
applicants) are required to apply on-line from Monday, 7 June 2021 via the EA website
https://www.eani.org.uk/financial-help/free-school-meals.

It is recommended that parents/ guardians apply during the month of June, or as early as possible,
to enable applications to be processed for support to be in place for their children for the new
school year. Parents/ guardians are being advised of the importance of providing valid Bank or
Building Society account details in the claimant’s own name. Payments cannot be made into Post
Office accounts.

**Paper application forms**
Paper copies will not be given out to parents/guardians.

**Special Diet**

Parents/Guardians whose child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs (Stage 5) and requires
a special diet should contact the Meals and Uniform Section for a paper application form if they
wish to apply under the special diet criteria.

**Free School Meals / Uniform Grants Helpdesk **
The Free Schools Meals and Uniform Grants Helpdesk is operated by staff across the EA Free School
Meals/ Uniform Grants service.
It is available to assist parents/guardians and schools who may have any queries. 

The Helpdesk
operates Monday – Friday from 9.00am to 4.30pm and can be contacted via email:
mealsanduniform@eani.org.uk. 

The telephone number which should be used for all enquiries is:
(028) 9041 8044.

E-mails and telephone calls should no longer be made directly to individual Free School Meals/
Uniform staff as they will be diverted to the Helpdesk for response.

Further information including eligibility criteria for the 2021-22 school year and a list of Frequently
Asked Questions to assist with any parental queries can be accessed by logging onto
www.eani.org.uk/financial-help/free-school-meals.