Free School Meals and Pupil Premium

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Free school meals are changing in 2026

From September 2026 the Department for Education is introducing new benefit criteria which will mean that all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit will be entitled to receive a free school meal. 

If you get certain benefits, your child could also qualify for free school meals during all school years. To qualify you must be receiving:

• Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods (£616.67 per month)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, provided you are also not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual household gross income that does not exceed £16,190 (as assessed by HMRC)
• Working Tax Credit run-on, paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Please note that contributions-based benefits, including contribution-related Jobseekers' Allowance do not entitle you to claim free school meals.

For more information, please visit the Pupil Premium page on the DfE website here