The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed a significant update to free school meals (FSM) policy affecting families receiving Universal Credit. Starting from the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children in households on Universal Credit attending schools will be entitled to free meals.
This policy change has been formalised through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, with additional plans to extend the requirement to maintained nursery schools.
The new FSM scheme introduces two benefit-based categories:
- Targeted FSM: This continues under the existing eligibility criteria, covering pupils in households on Universal Credit with annual earnings of £7,400 or less.
- Expanded FSM: A new category that provides free meals to pupils in households receiving Universal Credit who do not meet the targeted FSM income threshold.
Children eligible for FSM at any time in the previous six years form the ‘Ever 6’ cohort, which the government uses to allocate disadvantage funding and monitor accountability. Following the expansion, ‘Ever 6’ status will be determined based on the targeted FSM criteria only.
The DWP emphasises the importance of ongoing eligibility monitoring, requiring schools and local authorities to carry out annual rechecks. These assessments must verify continued entitlement and specify which FSM category applies.
All rechecks for the 2026 to 2027 academic year must be completed before the autumn term begins, ensuring eligible pupils receive free meals from day one. From September 2026 onwards, yearly eligibility assessments should be conducted ahead of the October census.
Schools hold responsibility for ensuring these checks are performed, collaborating with local authorities through a digital system provided by the Department for Education (DfE).
A DfE spokesperson highlighted the government’s commitment amid cost-of-living pressures, stating, “This historic investment, exceeding £1 billion, will expand free school meals to an additional 500,000 children. We’re working diligently with schools and councils to ensure eligible families are informed. Parents uncertain about eligibility should contact their school.”
Meanwhile, Kate Anstey, head of education policy at the Child Poverty Action Group, recognised the policy’s positive impact but urged the government to do more. She said, “The wider eligibility offers much-needed support to struggling families, but with autumn approaching swiftly, the DWP and DfE have only partially fulfilled their responsibilities. Families are under enormous strain, and it’s imperative that the government maximises the help available to children in need.”