Free school meals (FSM): who's eligible?
Find out the eligibility criteria for free school meals (FSM), and learn about the transitional protections in place during the Universal Credit rollout period.
Contents
- Eligibility criteria
- Transitional protections during Universal Credit rollout
- Eligible nursery pupils can receive FSM
- FSM for eligible post-16 students
- Looked after children are not eligible for FSM
- Adopted pupils aren't automatically eligible
- FSM for children of asylum seekers
- How to check eligibility
Eligibility criteria
A child may be eligible for free school meals (FSM) if their parents receive any of the following benefits:
Children may also get FSM if they receive any of these benefits directly, instead of
Read next
- Free school meals (FSM): funding
- Pupil premium and FSM registration: template letter to parents
- Pupil premium action plan and provision map templates
- Pupil premium: eligibility and funding rates Updated
- Definitions: 'disadvantaged pupils' and 'vulnerable' pupils
- Coronavirus: additional funding for your school