Guides › Public Services › Free School Meals From September 2026: All Universal Credit Families
Free School Meals from September 2026: All Universal Credit Families
From September 2026, all children in households getting Universal Credit in England are entitled to free school meals, regardless of earnings. Families earning £7,400 a year or less are in the targeted group, which also brings extra Pupil Premium funding to the school. Apply through your council or school so your child is registered.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Free School Meals
The Change
From September 2026, all children in households receiving Universal Credit are entitled to free school meals, regardless of earnings. source
Two Groups
Targeted: household earnings of £7,400 or less, which also attracts Pupil Premium for the school and may qualify for holiday activities and food. Expanded: earnings above £7,400, free meals but no Pupil Premium from this alone. source
Protections Ending
Transitional protections end after the 2025 to 2026 school year, so some children may lose eligibility if the family no longer gets Universal Credit or another qualifying benefit. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- Sept 2026New entitlement startsEngland
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check you get Universal Credit.
Step 2 of 5
Apply through your council or school.
Step 3 of 5
Tell the school if your earnings are £7,400 or less.
Step 4 of 5
Ask about holiday activities and food.
Step 5 of 5
Reapply if your benefits change.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Your Council or School
Handles free school meal applications.
Citizens Advice
Free, independent help with benefits, including challenges and appeals.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Applying even if your child already gets free meals can bring extra funding to the school.
Rules here are for England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own free school meal schemes.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 16 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.