Can my child get free school meals?

For parents and carers in England who want to know if their child can get free school meals.

Applies to: England Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

From the 2026 to 2027 school year, your child qualifies for free school meals in England if you get Universal Credit, regardless of household income. Some other benefits also qualify, such as the guaranteed element of Pension Credit.

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 at state schools get free meals.
Apply through your local authority.
Eligible children also qualify for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Wales: Check gov.wales for Wales
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

All Universal Credit families from 2026/27
Free for reception to year 2
Apply via your council

Who qualifies in England

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 school year, your child qualifies if you get Universal Credit, whatever your household income. Before this, families on Universal Credit had to have a household income of £7,400 a year or less.

Your child may also qualify if you get:

income-related Employment and Support Allowance
the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Young people who get one of these benefits paid directly to them, instead of through a parent, can also get free school meals.

Infant free school meals

Every child in reception, year 1 and year 2 at a state-funded school in England gets free school meals. You do not need to be on benefits.

Even so, tell your council if you get a qualifying benefit. Your child's school can then get extra funding to support them.

How to apply

Find your local council by entering your postcode on GOV.UK.
Apply on your council's website.

What else your child can get

Children who get free school meals can also:

join the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which gives free activities and meals in the school holidays
get help through the Household Support Fund, which some councils use for food vouchers
get free school transport in some cases, if they live far enough from school

Things to know

Applying is worth it even in the infant years, because your child's school gets extra funding.
From 2026 to 2027, working families on Universal Credit can qualify whatever they earn.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Wales: all primary school children can get Universal Primary Free School Meals.
Scotland: rules are set separately. Check mygov.scot or your council.
Northern Ireland: your child can qualify if you get Universal Credit and your household take-home earnings are £15,900 a year or less in 2026/27 (up from £15,390 in 2025/26). Income-related ESA, the guarantee element of Pension Credit, and support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 also count. Apply through the Education Authority.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Apply for free school meals

Common questions

Is there an income limit for free school meals on Universal Credit?

Not any more. From the start of the 2026 to 2027 school year, your child qualifies if you get Universal Credit whatever your household income, replacing the old limit of £7,400 a year after tax.

Do all infant children get free school meals?

Yes, every child in reception, year 1 and year 2 at a government-funded school in England gets free school meals. Tell your council if you get a qualifying benefit, as the school could get extra funding.

How do I apply for free school meals?

You apply through your local council, which you can find by entering your postcode on GOV.UK.

What else can my child get if they have free school meals?

Eligible families may also be able to use the Holiday Activities and Food programme and get help from the Household Support Fund.

Source: Apply for free school meals

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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