Free School Meals
Qualifying for Free School Meals
There are important changes to Free School Meals from September 2026.
What happens until August 2026?
If your child has qualified for Free School Meals at any point between April 2018 and August 2026, they will continue to receive them until 31 August 2026. These arrangements were put in place by the government to support families during the introduction of Universal Credit.
What is changing from September 2026?
From September 2026, families will be assessed under new government rules. To qualify for Free School Meals, a parent or carer must be receiving Universal Credit, regardless of the household income.
There are two types of support:
- Free School Meals with additional school funding – available for families on lower incomes (under £7,400). The school receives extra funding to support your child's education (Pupil Premium).
- Free School Meals only – available for other families receiving Universal Credit (with incomes greater than £7,400). Your child will still receive a free school meal, but the school will not receive the additional funding.
What do I need to do?
If you feel you might be eligible, please apply online after 1 August 2026, all parents should apply using the online process with Central Beds For more information, visit: Free school meals | Central Bedfordshire Council
The council will check whether your child qualifies and will inform your child's school of the outcome. Eligibility will be reviewed again at the start of each school year.
Remember
✅ On Universal Credit? Submit an application.
✅ Apply after 1 August 2026.
✅ If you are moving schools, Do not assume your child's Free School Meals will transfer automatically from primary school to secondary school.
Applications submitted before 1st August 2026 will be assessed using the current rules, therefore it is important you submit your application AFTER the 1st August 2026.
Need more information?
If you want to question or discuss Free School Meals in Central Bedfordshire, the contact details published by Central Bedfordshire Council are - Free School Meals / Benefits Team: 0300 300 8306
Applying
Free school meals | Central Bedfordshire Council
To apply for free school meals, please call CBC on 0300 300 8306.
Please have the following information ready:
- National Insurance numbers and dates of birth for you and your partner
- dates of birth for your children
- your NASS number if you receive support from the National Asylum Support Service
Update from CBC June 2025
The end of Transitional Protection Free School Meals 2026
Transitional Protection (TP) Free School Meals (FSM) was introduced from April 2018. This meant that if a family no longer met the income criteria for FSM the pupil could continue to receive them until the rollout of Universal Credit had completed.
The Government previously announced TP was ending on 31 March 2025, and a communication was issued to you regarding this.
You may now be aware from the news that there have been some changes to the previous guidance regarding the future of FSM. The changes will now be as follows:
· There will be new eligibility criteria from September 2026, which will allow all parents in receipt of Universal Credit to qualify for FSM not just those with earnings below the current earnings threshold.
· Transitional protection is still due to end, but it will not be until September 2026, this means from September 2026 households must meet the eligibility criteria to be entitled to free school meals, if on review they do not meet the eligibility criteria, entitlement to free school meals will be stopped.
All children currently eligible will remain to be so until these changes come into force.
From the Central Beds Website - for your reference
Students in further education and sixth form
If your child is aged 16 to 18 and attends a further education or sixth form college, please contact the college for information about free school meals. If your child attends a school sixth form, please contact us to apply.
When do free school meals start?
In most cases we will be able to confirm whether your child is entitled to free school meals straight away. As soon as we confirm that you qualify, we will inform your child’s school that their free school meals can start from the date you apply.
Your child can then get a free school meal every day from the standard menu at the school’s canteen or cafeteria. You only need to apply once, and your child’s free school meals will usually continue as long as they remain at the same school. We will contact you if there is any change to your entitlement.
Changes to free school meals from April 2025
From April 2018, the government introduced “transitional protection” for free school meals. This meant that if you no longer met the income criteria for free school meals, then your child could continue to receive them until the rollout of Universal Credit had completed. The government has now announced that transitional protection has ended on 31 March 2025. Any eligible claims starting from 1 April 2025 will not be protected when your family income no longer meets the qualifying criteria for free school meals.
The new rules mean that we will be reviewing your eligibility to free school meals on a regular basis and that you should inform us of income changes.
If you apply for free school meals after 1 April 2025
Any child confirmed as eligible for free school meals after 1 April 2025 will be subject to ongoing reviews to check their continued eligibility. The first of these reviews will be done at the end of the summer term. The frequency of reviews may change – if so, we will communicate any changes via your school and our website. It is also your responsibility as parent or guardian to let us know if your circumstances change and you think you may no longer qualify for free school meals.
If your child was receiving free school meals before 1 April 2025
Children who have been receiving free school meals before 1 April 2025 may continue to do so until the end of their current school phase (primary or secondary), even if your income changes. A review of all children leaving year 6 and moving to year 7 will be done before the start of the Autumn term each year. Once in year 7, even if your family remains eligible this child is no longer protected from future changes to your income.
How we will tell you about changes to your free school meals
We will write to you if we stop your child’s free school meals, and we will inform the school directly.
Changes you need to tell us about
You need to tell us about any changes in your circumstances which might affect your child’s entitlement to free school meals. Some examples of changes you need to report are:
- you no longer wish to receive free school meals
- your income no longer meets the qualifying criteria
- a new partner joins your household
- you move house
- your child changes their name
- you change your name
- another child in your family starts school
- your child goes into care
- your child changes schools
- your child moves between parents and/or guardians
Contact us
If you wish to report any changes or have any queries, please call 0300 300 8306 or email revsandbensfsm@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.