Free school meals
Who can get free school meals in term-time and how to apply.
Changes to this scheme
New government rules mean that from 1st September 2026, all children living in households that get Universal Credit are entitled to free school meals. We may write to you for more information and tell you what to do next, but if you do not get a letter from us by 15th August 2026, please apply online using the instructions on this page.
These new rules also mean that some children who already get free school meals may no longer be entitled to them. If you receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support and your child already gets free school meals, we will write to you in August 2026 to let you know if your child still qualifies and tell you what to do next.
Is my child eligible for free school meals?
Children in Reception, year 1 and year 2
All children in Reception, year 1 and year 2 get free school meals regardless of your income. Your school will write to you about this.
If you or your partner do receive one of the qualifying benefits listed below, please complete the online application form on this page so that your child’s school gets the extra funding known as the Pupil Premium.
Nursery-aged children
If your child is aged 3 or 4, attends a maintained nursery school all day and you receive a qualifying benefit, they could be eligible.
Children in junior and senior school – years 3 to 16
Your child could be eligible for free school meals if you or your partner receive a qualifying benefit.
Children in further education, who do not attend school sixth form
We only administer free school meals to children in further education at schools. If your child is aged 16 to 19 and eligible for free school meals but attends college or another educational establishment, you must request free school meals directly from the education setting they attend. Do not complete the form below.
What are the qualifying benefits?
If you or your partner receive any of the following benefits you can apply.
- Universal Credit - from 1st September 2026, all children living in households that receive Universal Credit are entitled to free school meals
- Income Support
- Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income related Employment Support Allowance
- Support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed part of State Pension Credit
If you're a foster parent, you cannot apply for free school meals as you already receive funding.
Do I need to apply?
If you receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support and your child already gets free school meals, we will write to you in August 2026 to let you know if your child still qualifies. We'll also tell you if you need to apply.
If you receive Universal Credit, we may write to you for more information and tell you what to do next. If you do not get a letter from us by 15th August 2026, please apply online using the instructions below.
Before you apply
You must apply online for each child and will need to provide:
- Your National Insurance number, or
- Your National Asylum Support Service (NASS) number
We will use this to confirm your eligibility with the Department for Work and Pensions.
How to apply
Apply online via the Citizen Portal - you will already have an account if you have applied for a Reception or Year 7 place in the past.
If you don't have an account, you can register for one. Not sure how to register? See our step-by-step guide to register for a Citizen Portal account.
Apply online - sign in or register for an account
Read our privacy notice which tells you how we use your data
What happens next?
We will check your eligibility with the Department of Work and Pensions and inform your child’s school if you are eligible for free school meals.
If you have applied for free school meals and are still waiting for a decision, please show your child's school evidence of your Universal Credit claim, such as a recent statement or award letter. The school will make sure your child receives a meal while your application is being processed.