From the 2026/27 school year, all children in England whose families receive Universal Credit will qualify for free school meals.
Currently, only families on Universal Credit who earn less than £7,400 a year after tax (excluding benefits) can get free meals for their children.
The Department for Education (DfE) announced this change after pressure from campaigners and education leaders. It will help more than half a million pupils.
The DfE says this move could lift 100,000 children out of poverty, especially as the cost of living crisis continues to affect many families.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said, “It is the moral mission of this government to tackle the stain of child poverty.”
She added, “Today, this government takes a giant step towards ending it with targeted support that puts money back in parents’ pockets.”
Phillipson highlighted that free school meals and free breakfast clubs are key parts of the government’s Plan for Change. The plan aims to break the cycle of child poverty and reduce the unfair link between a child’s background and their success.
She said, “We believe that background shouldn’t mean destiny. Today’s historic step will help us deliver excellence everywhere, for every child, and give more young people the chance to get on in life.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the expansion “a truly historic moment for our country.”
In January 2024, around 24.6% of pupils in England—about 2.1 million children—were eligible for free school meals. This is an increase from January 2022, when 2 million pupils (23.8%) qualified.
The number of children receiving free school meals has been rising steadily since 2017/18. The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 caused a notable jump.
Some areas, such as the West Midlands and London, have seen larger increases over the years.
The government had planned to publish its child poverty strategy in spring but has delayed it until autumn, to coincide with the budget.
Kate Anstey, head of education policy at the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), hopes this announcement signals positive changes in the upcoming strategy.
Nick Harrison, chief executive of the Sutton Trust charity, said the expansion is “a significant step towards taking hunger out of the classroom.”
He explained that hungry children struggle to learn, so free school meals help not only to reduce poverty’s impact but also improve education outcomes for disadvantaged young people.
Harrison also noted that extending free meals to all families on Universal Credit makes the system easier to understand, which may lead to more children benefiting.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said many children just missing out on Universal Credit eligibility also lose access to hot, healthy meals at school.
He added, “Ensuring that a free school meal is available to all children is the next urgent step that must be taken.”
The Liberal Democrats described the change as “only a first step” but welcomed it as a “victory for thousands of passionate campaigners.”
They called for further measures, including lifting the two-child benefit cap and capping school uniform costs, to help reduce child poverty.
