Changes to Free School Meals from September 2026

We want to make families aware of some upcoming changes to Free School Meals (FSM), which may affect pupils from 1st September 2026.

What is changing?

On 8 May 2026, the Department for Education announced changes to how Free School Meals eligibility will work in future, linked to Universal Credit. These changes will affect:

• Families who currently receive FSM.
• Families who may be eligible but are not currently claiming FSM.

Important Change to Current Protection

Since April 2018, once a child became eligible for FSM, they have continued to receive them even if their family’s circumstances changed. This protection will stop at the end of the 2025–26 school year on 31 August 2026.

Checking Eligibility 

Sheffield City Council will be checking free school meal eligibility for all pupils between the summer and autumn term 2026 (and regularly going forwards). This applies to:

• pupils who currently receive FSM
• families who wish to apply for FSM for the first time

Who May Be Eligible?

• Targeted Free School Meals (with additional funding for schools)

• Families may be eligible if they receive:

       - 'Universal Credit' with a household income of £7,400 a year or less
       - income-related Employment and Support Allowance
       - the guaranteed element of 'Pension Credit'
       - support under Part VI of the 'Immigration and Asylum Act' (1999)