From September 2026, the Government is expanding eligibility for Free School Meals (FSM). All children in households receiving Universal Credit will now be eligible, regardless of income.

Your child will be eligible if you access:

• Universal Credit

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

• The guarantee part of Pension Credit

Households may also be entitled to a free school meal if they:

• are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• meet criteria set out in separate guidance for families with no recourse to public funds

This creates two categories:

· Targeted FSM (household income £7,400 or below) – includes additional support such as Pupil Premium funding

· Expanded FSM – for all other households receiving Universal Credit

Please note: From September 2026, FSM eligibility will be checked annually, and previous 6-year protections will end.

We strongly encourage eligible families to register for Free School Meals as it can provide significant benefits for both families and schools. The link to apply for Free School Meals through Staffordshire County Council is: https://apps2.staffordshire.gov.uk/web/fsmweb/

For full details and how to apply, please refer to the letter sent via the MyChildAtSchool app.

 

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