Eligibility explained
You may qualify for free school meals (FSM) and other help if you receive certain benefits or support. You must apply for free school meals.
From September 2026, there are two types of entitlement:
- Targeted: you receive Universal Credit and earn under £7,400 a year or another qualifying benefit: your children are entitled to FSM and extra support for their school
- Expanded: you receive Universal Credit and earn above £7,400: your children are entitled to FSM only
The qualifying benefits are:
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) may also be eligible.
Read more about the changes from September 2026: Understand Free school meals eligibility changes from September 2026 (PDF, 154 KB)
Benefits valid until the end of the 2025 to 2026 school year
In addition, families may apply with the following qualifying benefits until the end of the current 2025-26 school year:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
- Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
These benefits will not qualify from the 2026 to 2027 school year onwards (from September 2026).
Universal infant free school meals
All children attending Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 automatically receive Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM).
If you think you might be eligible for benefit related FSM, you should still apply as you may be able to help your child's school get extra funds (called Pupil Premium). This Government funding can help with extra tuition, teaching and after school activities.
If you already receive free school meals
If you are a Norfolk resident already in receipt of benefits related Free School Meals you do not need to reapply, as we will recheck eligibility before the start of each school year. If your child moves or your situation changes, contact us or the school.
Children in Year 3 or above
If your child is in Year 3 or above, you must receive one of the qualifying benefits listed to get benefit-related Free School Meals.
Nursery children
If your child is attending a nursery school, they must be in a maintained school nursery as a registered pupil at the school, your child must be in receipt of education before and after lunch on the same day and you must be in receipt of a qualifying benefit to be entitled.
Children of foreign nationals
Families with British National (Overseas) status and families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) are entitled to apply for Free School Meals by completing the NRPF Free School Meals application.