From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, the eligibility rules have been extended to include all children from households who are in receipt if Universal Credit regardless of household earnings.
As a result of these changes, there is a requirement for eligibility to Free School Meals (FSM) to be checked once a year as previous protections will end. We are currently in the process of checking eligibility for all applications ahead of the start of the 2026/27 academic year.
From September 2026, free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit element)
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
Pupils are only eligible for a free school meal where both a claim has been made and the eligibility has been verified by the Local Authority or the school where they are enrolled.
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, there will be 2 categories for free school meals - Targeted and Expanded.
Eligible Targeted
This covers children in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less. These children will attract pupil premium and other funding available for their schools. Other entitlements, such as the holiday activities and food programme (HAF) and the ‘extended rights’ element of school travel assistance, will be based on targeted free school meals. This is equivalent to the current system.
Eligible Expanded
This covers children who are in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings above £7,400. Children will be entitled to free school meals only – they are not entitled to Pupil Premium or other extra’s that are linked to free school meal eligibility.
If you are receiving Universal Credit and have never applied for FSM before, then please complete the relevant application form.
If you're a foster parent, you cannot apply for free school meals as you already receive funding.