Universal free school meals

Universal free school meal entitlement will continue while your child is in reception, year 1 or year 2. 

Government free school meals 

• From 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants will continue to receive free school meals whilst universal credit is rolled out. This will apply even if their earnings rise above the new threshold during that time.
• In addition, any child gaining eligibility for free school meals after 1 April 2018 will be protected against losing free school meals during the universal credit rollout period
• Once universal credit is fully rolled out, any existing claimants that no longer meet the eligibility criteria at that point (because they are earning above the threshold or are no longer a recipient of universal credit) will continue to receive free school meals until the end of their current phase of education (i.e. primary or secondary).

The universal credit rollout is currently expected to complete in summer 2023.