From September 2026, every primary and secondary student whose household is on universal credit will have a new entitlement to free school meals.
Currently, children have only been eligible for free school meals if their household income is less than £7,400 per year – just £142 a week – before benefits.
The government says the change will lift 100,000 children out of poverty by saving parents around £500 each year in food costs and could help improve student behaviour and attainment.
Nick Harrison, chief executive of the Sutton Trust, called the move a “significant step” towards tackling classroom hunger.
He said: “Children can’t learn effectively when hungry, so this announcement not only helps to tackle the effects of child poverty but will also likely help improve education outcomes for disadvantaged young people.”
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