1 Is my child eligible?
Changes to free school meal eligibility from September 2026
The government has announced that the eligibility criteria for free school meals will change from 1 September 2026.
All children who live in a household that receives Universal Credit can get free school meals.
There will be 2 types of benefits-related free school meals (FSM).
Targeted free school meals
Children can get targeted free school meals if their household receives Universal Credit and earns £7,400 a year or less.
Children who receive targeted free school meals can also:
- take part in the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme
- help their school receive extra Pupil Premium funding
Expanded free school meals
Expanded free school meals are for children whose household receives Universal Credit but does not qualify for targeted free school meals.
Children in this group can receive free school meals, but they cannot access the extra support linked to targeted free school meals.
Targeted free school meals in all West Sussex maintained and free schools and academies are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of state Pension Credit
If your child already gets free school meals, we will check whether they qualify under the new rules before 1 September 2026. We will tell you and your child's school the outcome.
Once we give your child a free school meal status, either Targeted FSM or Expanded FSM, they will keep that status until the end of that school year.
We will check your child's eligibility every year before the start of the new school year. If we do not have the information we need, we may ask you to provide updated details.
If your child does not qualify for benefits-related free school meals but is in Reception, year 1 or year 2, they can still get Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM). You do not need to apply. Contact your school for more information.
If your child receives UIFSM and also qualifies for Targeted FSM, it is important to register for Targeted FSM.
Registering helps your child's school claim pupil premium funding. This extra funding gives schools more money to support children with their learning and wellbeing.
If your child is aged 16 or over and studies in further education, visit the Free meals in further education guide on GOV.UK to find out more. You can also contact their college or training provider for advice.
2 How to apply
If you receive any of the benefits specified on Is my child eligible?, you can apply online.
Apply online for free school meals (external link)Once your application has been successfully processed we will send you a confirmation.
3 Free School Meals to families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
The DfE have permanently extended free school meal eligibility to children in all households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to maximum income thresholds. Schools and local authorities are not able to use the eligibility checking system (ECS) to confirm eligibility for these families as the family will not be in receipt of Universal Credit or legacy benefits.
This means that you cannot process the claim using our online FSM application process.
Complete the application form on GOV.UK below and return it to your child’s school.
Application form for free school meals from families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) (GOV.UK) (external link)The eligible groups include, but may not be limited to children of:
- Zambrano carers
- families who have no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
- families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction
- a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Chen carers
- families holding a BN(O) passport
- spousal visa holders
- work visa holders
- student visa holders
- those with no immigration status
Find examples of the documents that can be provided as evidence of the parent’s status.
The maximum income threshold is dependent upon where the family lives and the number of children that the family has.
Under the permanent extension of free school meal eligibility to all NRPF groups, the annual household income thresholds for those families able to work are:
- £22,700 for families outside of London with one child
- £26,300 for families outside of London with two or more children
- £31,200 for families within London with one child
- £34,800 for families within London with two or more children.
The DfE have given examples of the documents the parents could provide to schools to prove their annual income.
School colleagues should record eligible free school meals pupils who qualify through the NRPF criteria in the termly school census, in the same way as all other free school meals pupils. However, these pupils are not covered by FSM Transitional Protection, and will only remain eligible for free school meals as long as the parents fulfil the eligibility criteria above.
All evidence of the application, including the self-declaration and any supporting documentation, should be retained securely by schools for audit purposes.
The DfE have produced an application form that can be provided to parents when they apply, please see the link above.
As a parent’s situation may change over the course of the year, schools are advised to re-check parent’s eligibility at least once a term.
4 If your circumstances change
If your circumstances have changed contact us as you may need to make a new application. For example, if your child changes school to a school that is not within West Sussex, you should contact the new local authority and inform West Sussex.
Note: you do not need to re-apply when your child is moving from primary to secondary school or changing schools if their new school is within West Sussex.
5 Contact details
7 Holiday Activities and Food programme
Find information about a Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme during the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays for school children aged 4 to 16 who receive benefits-related free school meals.
Holiday Activities and Food programme