From the start of the 2026 academic year all children whose families receive Universal Credit will be entitled to receive a free meal regardless of household income.
Under current rules, only families who are entitled to Universal Credit and receive £7,400 or less per year from employment qualify for a free lunch for their children. The expanded eligibility will mean many more children will be able to receive a free nutritious meal.
As part of the changes affecting primary, junior and secondary school students there will be 2 categories of benefit-based free school meals:
- Targeted FSM – continues to be based on the existing threshold, offering free school meals to pupils who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
- Expanded FSM – a new category offering free school meals to pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit
All pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 will continue to get free meals under the universal free school meals policy.
Families are encouraged to apply and check if they are eligible.
Councillor Simon Mabbott, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for SEND and Education, said:
“I’d urge all Derbyshire families who receive Universal Credit to check if they are eligible for free school meals.
“For families of primary school children, it will save them around £500 a year – or up to £60 a month.
“It not only helps financially, having a hot, nutritious dinner can help children to focus on their learning and do better at school.”
Transitional protection for free school meals – which has been in effect since 1 April 2018 – will end on 31 July 2026. The expanded free school meals will ensure all children, whose household receives Universal Credit even where their employment income exceeds £7,400 per year, will be able to continue receiving the free meals.
All families previously eligible will be rechecked and notified directly by the school if they are no longer eligible for the meals.