The Community of Madrid on 16 October 2026 a second application window for school meal grants (becas de comedor) has been opened. Applications may be submitted until 16 November 2026 Applications are open to pupils who joined the education system in the Madrid region after the start of the school year, as well as to families who were excluded in the first round because of formal errors, missing documents or missed deadlines.
The regional government says the conditions are unchanged from the September procedure. Documents can be submitted through the Comunidad de Madrid’s institutional portal, the digital user platform Cuenta Digital, at the administration’s official registries or directly at public schools funded by the state (colegios sostenidos con fondos públicos). Applicants must provide a formal application with basic details, explicit consent for the authorities to check their data and, depending on the case, supporting documents. The application must be signed by every adult named in it.
The regional government lists grants at different rates. Depending on the family’s circumstances, support ranges from 300 euros to a full exemption from paying for school meals. For certain eligible groups, previously approved social benefits, such as the Ingreso Mínimo Vital, may be used as evidence. The precise rate is determined by the relevant administrative rules and the decisions published in the Official Gazette of the Comunidad de Madrid for the current school year.
The second application window aims to improve continuity of school meal provision and make access easier for children enrolled after the start of the school year and families previously excluded for formal reasons. School administrations are responsible for receiving applications and checking them for formal requirements; decisions on grants and their administration are handled by the relevant regional government departments. No estimates are currently available for the expected number of additional beneficiaries; such figures would only be available later from administrative records or budget statements.
The Comunidad de Madrid announced the deadlines and procedures on 16 October 2026. They apply to the current school year and retain unchanged the criteria published in September. The administration recommends submitting all required documents with the application to avoid delays and allow families excluded in the first round to correct their applications.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).