HUNDREDS of thousands of children receive free school meals – but what you are eligible for varies based on where you live.
Families in England, Wales and Scotland can claim the benefit, which you apply for through your council. Here’s what you need to know about the scheme.
AlamyThe criteria on who can get free school meals varies across the country[/caption]
Who is eligible for free school meals in the UK?
Eligibility for free school meals varies depending on what country you live in.
In England, all children in reception, year one and two can get a free meal in school.
In Scotland, all students between reception and year five can get help regardless of their parents’ income.
In Wales, pupils in reception get free school meals.
By the end of 2024, the Welsh Government aims to have rolled out the scheme for all primary school pupils.
Whether you are eligible for free school meals after that depends on whether you get certain benefits and your income.
In all three countries, you qualify if you get certain benefits regardless of income.
This includes: income support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and support under the Immigration and Asylum Act.
In England and Wales, this also includes if you receive the guaranteed element of Pension Credit and working tax credit.
For millions on Universal Credit there are income requirements though.
If you live in England or Wales, you must have an income of £7,400 a year or less, not including benefits, to qualify for free school meals.
Those on child tax credits must earn under £16,190 a year.
In Scotland, those on Universal Credit must have a monthly income of £660 or less – £7,920 a year.
Meanwhile, Scottish families must have an income of less than £17,005 if they claim child tax credits, which goes down to £7,920 if they claim this as well as working tax credits.
In some cases, children aged between 16 and 18 receiving Universal Credit themselves can be eligible for free school meals too.
What age do kids get free school meals in the UK?
In England, all children from reception to year two qualify for free school meals – so kids aged roughly between four and seven.
In Scotland, all children between four and nine will qualify, while in Wales, pupils aged around four get free school meals.
But, of course, all primary school-aged children should be eligible for the scheme by the end of 2024.
That means children between four and 11.
In any part of the UK, from year three onwards, your children could qualify for free school meals.
But this is when the eligibility criteria kicks in, meaning you’ll need to be receiving certain benefits and your income may be taken into consideration.
How much do you get for free school meals in the UK?
Schools are allocated a flat rate of £2.30 per meal per pupil in England.
That means over the course of a five-day week the meals are worth £11.50 per student.
Of course, you are not actually receiving that amount in cash, but it is what the meals are worth.
How many eligible children claim free school meals in England?
Just under 1.9 million pupils are eligible for free school meals in England.
But analysis from the Liberal Democrats in December 2022 revealed over 230,000 children were not receiving the benefit because their parents were not claiming.
Based on that, it means around 1.7 million students are currently claiming free school meals in England.
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