Free School Meals Information

Since September 2014, all children in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 in state-funded schools across England have been entitled to receive a free lunch through the Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) policy.

Key Stage 2 and Beyond

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Universal Credit with a household income of less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
• Income-Based Jobseekers’ Allowance
• Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit, not entitled to Working Tax Credit and household income less than £16,190
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Working Tax Credit ‘run on’ – the payment you receive for a further four weeks after you finish work

If your claim was approved on or before 31 March 2025, your child’s eligibility for free school meals will be protected until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they are in, even if your circumstances change.

If you have a younger child starting school in September and you are no longer eligible, they will not be protected because this would be a new claim.

Any claims approved after 1 April 2025, will not have transitional protection. Claims will be re-assessed on an annual basis.

For more details and to apply online, please visit the LCC ‘Free School Meals’ page.