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Free school meals (FSM): who's eligible?

Get to grips with the eligibility criteria for free school meals (FSM), how you should check pupils' eligibility, and the new distinction between targeted and expanded FSM.

Updated
on 12 June 2026See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 3930
Contents
  1. New FSM structure from 2026/27, with transitional protections ending
  2. Nursery children and pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2
  3. Pupils in households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
  4. Looked after children (LAC) and adopted children
  5. Recheck eligibility ahead of 2026/27, and annually after this
  6. Use the new FSM eligibility checking service (ECS)
  7. Actively encourage newly eligible families to apply
  8. Post-16 students

New FSM structure from 2026/27, with transitional protections ending

From September 2026, eligibility for free school meals (FSM) will be extended to all pupils from households receiving Universal Credit.

You'll receive additional funding in 2026/27 to help you cover the cost of FSM for pupils who are newly eligible – read more in our article on funding for FSM. 

The expansion means there will be 2 categories of benefits-based FSM: 

1. Targeted FSM – based on the old income threshold (before the expansion)

A pupil qualifies for targeted FSM if their household receives:

  • Universal Credit, and has an annual net income of £7,400 or less
  • Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

A pupil may also be entitled to targeted FSM if their household:

  • Receives income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Receives the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • Has no recourse to public funds (NRPF – see more below)

Attract pupil premium and other disadvantage funding for