Changes to free school meals

Terryjl111

So am I correct in thinking that I will now no longer get vouchers for school holidays as im not in the first group as I earn to much? The government seems to have gone back on its word about legacy protection. If my child is entitled to help during term time why not during holidays, they don't stop eating and being a single parent my income tends to go down.

Brie

I don't have an answer for you but think this is in the wrong bit of the forum. I'll move it to "child support" as while not perfect may be a better place to get informed responses.

fwiw - school holidays is when food banks try to stock up extra. and I realise that parents with limited income do get the double whammy at that time what with needing to provide lunch & entertainment as well as taking time off work to look after their children. especially hard if they depend on overtime which obviously doesn't happen when taking time off.

Terryjl111

Yes couldn't figure out how to move it

Baldytyke88

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, we are expanding FSM eligibility to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings. Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

Universal Credit
support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal where both:

a claim for this support has been made
their eligibility has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority 

Households may also be entitled to a meal if they:

are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance
receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit
meet criteria set out in separate guidance for families with no recourse to public funds

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools-and-local-authorities/free-school-meals-guidance-for-local-authorities-local-authority-maintained-schools-academies-and-free-schools

powerspowers

Are you in England and previously got vouchers in the holidays from your local council through the Household SupportFund? The HSF has been replaced and councils will be moving to an application based scheme. Search Crisis and Resilience Fund on your local council website.

There are also changes to FSM, some families who had transitional protection will loose it from September. But all families in UC will now qualify.

One thing to try is Iceland Food Club, they do micro loans for families in the school holidays, or is there a food pantry / social supermarket in your area?

TotoGypsy

The information given re Free School Meals isn't totally correct. Whilst it is true more parents will now be able to apply not all the benefits apply to everyone.

There are 2 levels for free school meals from 1st August (Income based free school meals for all children whose parents claim UC - not Universal infant free school meals, which apply to all Early years and Key Stage 1 children regardless of income). Expanded entitlement applies to all children whose parents are on UC but it does not give them HAF, food vouchers or activities or their school's pupil premium. Only Targeted entitlement gives those. To be targeted, income must still be below £7800 per household per annum after any tax.

Also not all areas, at least not mine, need you to apply to the local authority. In my area you apply to the school who either have their own system of checking or use the local authority checking service. You will now have some difficulty applying in time for the new school year as most schools are closed. It doesn't take long to check but it won't be done by the first day of term unless school office staff are employed to work during school holidays. We were checking ours in the last week of term as this was permitted.

We also no longer issue holiday food vouchers as our authority stopped doing that after May half term. If they did still do it it would only apply to enhanced eligibility.

Hope that gives some clarity.