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 your child's school the outcome, and they will notify you.
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.