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Free school meals

The rules depend on where you live and your child's age. Big change for 2026-27: in England, every family on Universal Credit now qualifies, whatever they earn.

All UC familiesEngland, from Sept 2026

All primarychildren in Wales

P1 to P5all children in Scotland

£125–£200School Essentials Grant, Wales

England

Reception, year 1 and year 2: every child at a state school gets a free lunch.
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 school year: your child qualifies if you get Universal Credit, regardless of household income.
You also qualify with income-related ESA, income-based JSA, Income Support, Pension Credit guarantee, or asylum support.

Apply through your council even if your child already gets an infant free lunch: the school gets extra Pupil Premium funding for each child who qualifies on income. Children on free school meals can also join the free Holiday Activities and Food programme.

Wales

Primary school: every child gets free school meals (Universal Primary Free School Meals).
Secondary school: means-tested. On Universal Credit, your household take-home earnings must be £7,400 a year or less.
Years 7 and 8: from September 2026, pupils in years 7 and 8 in a family on Universal Credit can get free school meals whatever you earn. Your council says when you can apply.
School Essentials Grant: if your child qualifies for means-tested free meals, you can get £125 a year per child from reception to year 11, or £200 for a child starting year 7, for uniform, kit and equipment. It's open from 1 July 2026 to 31 May 2027.

Scotland

P1 to P5: every child gets a free school lunch.
P6 and P7: free if you get Scottish Child Payment (which most families on Universal Credit do), Pension Credit or income-based ESA.
Secondary: free on Universal Credit where your monthly earned income is £995 or less, or on Pension Credit or income-based ESA.
Children in funded early learning and childcare get a free meal on the days they go.

Families who qualify can usually get a school clothing grant from the council too, and help with food in the school holidays. Ask your council.

Northern Ireland

Free school meals and uniform grants are means-tested and run by the Education Authority. Families on Universal Credit with low earnings usually qualify. Apply through the Education Authority.

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How to apply

England: find your council on GOV.UK.
Wales: help with school costs on GOV.WALES.
Scotland: school meals on mygov.scot.

Sources

Every figure on this page is copied from these official pages, for April 2026 to March 2027 (checked 3 November 2026):

This is a guide, not advice. The office that runs each benefit decides who gets it. Rules can change.