More children now eligible for free school meals

The number of children eligible for free school meals has gone up in the last year.

According to new government figures, 26.5% of pupils were entitled to free school meals in January 2026.

That’s up from 25.7% a year earlier - an increase of 43,100.

Who can get free school meals?

Your child could get free school meals if they attend a state school and you get benefits including:

• income support
• 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 pension credit
• child tax credit (provided you’re not also entitled to working tax credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• working tax credit run-on - paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit
• universal credit - your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get) – this cap will be removed in September 

Also, households with kids who qualify for benefits-related free school meals may be eligible for holiday food vouchers to help low-income families through the school holidays.

How can I apply for free school meals?

If you’re not sure whether your child qualifies for free school meals, then get in touch with your local council directly. 

In most areas, you can apply through your local authority’s website, which you can find at www.gov.uk.

You can also speak to Citizens Advice or your school if you need extra financial support.

Why are free school meal numbers increasing?

The increase in eligibility is partly because of transitional protections introduced when universal credit was rolled out.

Since April 2018, children who became eligible for free school meals have generally been able to keep receiving them even if their family's circumstances later changed.

So more pupils continue to join the scheme while fewer leave it.

Free school meals eligibility varies across England

Eligibility rates differ significantly depending on where families live.

The north-east has the highest proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals, with 33% of children qualifying.

By contrast, the figure is just 21.1% in the south-east and the east of England.

Every region saw an increase in eligibility compared with the previous year, with London recording one of the largest rises.

Nearly one in three (29.2%) of pupils in the capital can get free school meals - an increase of 1.3%.