Read 2023DIN01-071 carefully to check eligibility before completing the application form at Annex A, which then needs to be signed off by your Commanding Officer
Universal Infant Free School Meals
Get your Universal Infant Free School Meals reimbursed when you are serving overseas in an area where you have to pay for meals at your children’s school or where MOD schools are unable to offer catering
Eligibility check:
What is this for?
State funded schools in England have to offer a free meal to every primary school pupil in reception classes, year 1 and year 2. The purpose of this reimbursement is to ensure that you aren’t disadvantaged when you are serving overseas in an area where you have to pay for meals at your child’s school or where MOD schools are unable to offer catering,
What do I get?
Where the meal is provided by the school you are entitled to a refund of the actual cost of the meal. An invoice or receipt is required.
In schools without facilities to provide meals, a refund of £2.30 per meal can be claimed. This is in line with government funding allocated to schools in England. The claim amount should be converted into local currency using the Forces Fixed Rate. In the absence of a Forces fixed rate, the Garrison accounting rate for the relevant country should be used. Claimants can only claim for days that a child has attended school. Proof of attendance is required.
How do I apply/claim?
1
Seek authorisation
2
Claim refund
Once sign off has been received, claims should be made via JPA iexpenses (overseas child expenses) (MODnet only). More information can be found in the Overseas Nursery Authority and Universal Infant Free School meals self-service user guide, which can be found at JPA user guides (defnet).
If you don’t have access to JPA, then you should speak to your administration unit and arrange for refunds to be paid under local arrangements.
3
Any questions?
If you have any general queries please email the AFFS team at People-AFFS-Education-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk
Page last updated: 23 January 2024
Need more information?
defnet access only
2023DIN01-071 Universal Infant Free School Meals
Read the DIN