Free School Meals

From September 2026, the Free School Meals system has changed. Children are no longer automatically entitled to Free School Meals and all families must reapply at the start of each school year. There are now two categories of benefits-based Free School Meals: Targeted and Expanded.

Targeted

Targeted covers children in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less.

Under this category children will benefit from Holiday Activities and Food provision (HAF).

Children may also be eligible for under the targeted category if their household is in receipt of one of the below benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• No Recourse to Public Funds

Expanded

Expanded covers children who are in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings exceeding £7,400.

Under this category children will not benefit from Holiday Activities and Food provision (HAF).

Further Information

If you want any further information about Free School Meals or how to apply please visit Swindon Borough Council's website Free school meals | Swindon Borough Council