Pupils Benefits

What we do

If you receive certain benefits and you have a child in primary or secondary school you may be able to receive free school meals, school clothing grants or school journeys grants.

The Pupil Benefits Team will work out what support you can receive.

Contact details

Royal Borough of Greenwich Pupil Benefits Team,
Advice and Benefits Service,
The Woolwich Centre,
35 Wellington Street,
London SE18 6HQ.

pandsbenefits@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
020 8921 2530/2570

Why we need your information and how we use it

We need to collect and share information in order to deliver our services effectively.

The information you provide to us on your free school meal application and any supporting papers you provide will be used to:

  • process your application
  • ensure the efficient checking and authorisation of the award in accordance with the Free School Meals legislation
  • continued eligibility checking
  • populate our database.
What is our power to obtain and use personal data?

Parental consent is required for the processing of personal data of children under the age of 16. Clear and affirmative consent to the processing of personal data must be given. By completing a valid application form, you are giving explicit consent.

What type of information we collect

In order to administer free school meals, school clothing grants or school journeys grants the following information is collected:

  • parent(s)/carer's name, address and contact details
  • parent(s)/carer's National Insurance number (NINO)
  • name, date of birth and gender of child/children
  • parent/carer's relationship to the child/children
  • address where the child/children ordinarily lives at the time of application
  • current or previous school
  • benefit and income proof
  • parent/carer's Bank Account details
  • equalities information in line with the Council's Public Sector Equalities duty.
Who we may share your information with

Agencies we will share the information with:

  • schools to advise them of the application outcome
  • Department for Education to comply with statutory data collection
  • other teams within the Council to verify the information such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax.

The Council is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers and to this end may use the information you have provided within the authority for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies administering public funds solely for these purposes.

How long we keep your information
We retain your information for six years.
Version date
June 2019