{
    "componentChunkName": "component---src-templates-post-js",
    "path": "/news/free-school-meals",
    "result": {"data":{"wpPost":{"title":"Free School Meals: Who Qualifies and How to Apply","content":null,"uri":"/news/free-school-meals/","id":"cG9zdDo5NjA5","date":"20 Aug 2026","author":{"node":{"name":"Reuben"}},"flexLayouts":{"pageLayouts":[{"__typename":"WpPost_Flexlayouts_PageLayouts_PostHeader","postTitle":"Free School Meals","blurb":"Who qualifies and how to apply","image":{"altText":"Starting School","sourceUrl":"https://wp-main.travellermovement.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LM-Starting-School-1.png","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","placeholder":{"fallback":"data:image/png;base64,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"},"images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/530c8/LM-Starting-School-1.png","srcSet":"/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/06aef/LM-Starting-School-1.png 267w,\n/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/3e2b8/LM-Starting-School-1.png 534w,\n/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/530c8/LM-Starting-School-1.png 1068w","sizes":"(min-width: 1068px) 1068px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/dd357/LM-Starting-School-1.avif 267w,\n/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/38e95/LM-Starting-School-1.avif 534w,\n/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/dda96/LM-Starting-School-1.avif 1068w","type":"image/avif","sizes":"(min-width: 1068px) 1068px, 100vw"},{"srcSet":"/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/59a99/LM-Starting-School-1.webp 267w,\n/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/92f1f/LM-Starting-School-1.webp 534w,\n/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/48142/LM-Starting-School-1.webp 1068w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 1068px) 1068px, 100vw"}]},"width":1068,"height":460}}}}},{"__typename":"WpPost_Flexlayouts_PageLayouts_PlainText","heading":null,"text":"<p>All children should have access to a nutritious meal during the school day. Families on low incomes can get support, and the rules have just got better: from September 2026, every child in England whose household receives Universal Credit qualifies for a free school meal &#8211; whatever the household earns.</p>\n","padding":{"top":"pt-0","bottom":"pb-11"},"alignment":"\"\""},{"__typename":"WpPost_Flexlayouts_PageLayouts_PlainText","heading":"Who qualifies in England","text":"<p>Free school meals are available to pupils who receive, or whose parents receive, one or more of the following:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Universal Credit (from September 2026 there is no earnings limit; before that, net earnings had to be under £7,400 a year)</li>\n<li>Income Support</li>\n<li>Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance</li>\n<li>Income-related Employment and Support Allowance</li>\n<li>Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999</li>\n<li>The guaranteed element of Pension Credit</li>\n<li>Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax</li>\n<li>Credit and your annual gross income is no more than £16,190)</li>\n<li>Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)</li>\n<li>Families with no recourse to public funds may also qualify, subject to income limits &#8211; ask your council.</li>\n</ul>\n","padding":{"top":"pt-0","bottom":"pb-11"},"alignment":"\"\""},{"__typename":"WpPost_Flexlayouts_PageLayouts_PlainText","heading":"What changed in September 2026","text":"<p>The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 brought in specific changes to who is entitled to free school meals.</p>\n<ol>\n<li>Targeted free school meals: Universal Credit households earning £7,400 or less a year. These pupils also bring pupil premium funding to their school and can access the Holiday Activities and Food programme.</li>\n<li>Expanded free school meals: all other Universal Credit households are entitled to free school meals only.</li>\n<li>Transitional protections have ended: if your child previously received free school meals, you may need to re-apply. Eligibility is now rechecked every year.</li>\n<li>Free meals for the youngest children<br />\nAll children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 at state-funded schools automatically receive a free school meal, whatever the family’s income. If you also receive benefits, still apply for benefits-based free school meals as it brings extra pupil premium funding to your child’s school.</li>\n</ol>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n","padding":{"top":"pt-0","bottom":"pb-11"},"alignment":"\"\""},{"__typename":"WpPost_Flexlayouts_PageLayouts_PlainText","heading":"How to apply","text":"<p>Check eligibility and apply through your local council &#8211; start at <a href=\"http://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals</a>  You will usually need your National Insurance number.</p>\n<p>If you are having trouble applying or need assistance, contact your child’s school who can support you with the application to make sure your child receives their meals.</p>\n<p>Respond to the annual eligibility recheck so your child does not miss out.</p>\n","padding":{"top":"pt-0","bottom":"pb-11"},"alignment":"\"\""},{"__typename":"WpPost_Flexlayouts_PageLayouts_DownloadsSection","sectionHeading":"Free School Meals - a Traveller Movement Guide","text":"View and download our latest guide on Free School Meals","downloadLinks":[{"file":{"title":"Free School Meals Guide – The Traveller Movement","mediaItemUrl":"https://wp-main.travellermovement.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Free-School-Meals-Guide-The-Traveller-Movement-1.pdf"}}],"padding":{"top":"pt-11","bottom":"pb-11"}}]},"seo":{"seoComponents":null}}},"pageContext":{"uri":"/news/free-school-meals/","date":"20 Aug 2026","numericDate":"20260820","title":"Free School Meals: Who Qualifies and How to Apply","id":"cG9zdDo5NjA5","slug":"free-school-meals","link":"https://travellermovement.org.uk/news/free-school-meals/","categories":{"nodes":[{"name":"Education"},{"name":"News"}]},"flexLayouts":{"pageLayouts":[{"postTitle":"Free School Meals","blurb":"Who qualifies and how to apply","image":{"altText":"Starting School","sourceUrl":"https://wp-main.travellermovement.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LM-Starting-School-1.png","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/29005/LM-Starting-School-1.png","srcSet":"/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/28106/LM-Starting-School-1.png 258w,\n/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/42ffd/LM-Starting-School-1.png 516w,\n/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/29005/LM-Starting-School-1.png 1032w","sizes":"(min-width: 1032px) 1032px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/b4941/LM-Starting-School-1.avif 258w,\n/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/b56e8/LM-Starting-School-1.avif 516w,\n/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/70cd8/LM-Starting-School-1.avif 1032w","type":"image/avif","sizes":"(min-width: 1032px) 1032px, 100vw"},{"srcSet":"/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/a776a/LM-Starting-School-1.webp 258w,\n/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/528d8/LM-Starting-School-1.webp 516w,\n/static/dddca54823b54b259f56aaeb96d176e8/3abaa/LM-Starting-School-1.webp 1032w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 1032px) 1032px, 100vw"}]},"width":1032,"height":444.00000000000006}}}}},{},{},{},{},{}]},"breadcrumb":{"location":"/news/free-school-meals","crumbs":[{"pathname":"/","crumbLabel":"Home"},{"pathname":"/news","crumbLabel":"news"},{"pathname":"/news/free-school-meals","crumbLabel":"free-school-meals"}]}}},
    "staticQueryHashes": ["1023626402","1121864969","2186305452","2392720032","2920111332","3108305089"]}