What happens if my free school meal benefit entitlement stops?

Universal infant free school meals

Your child’s entitlement to universal free school meals will continue until they enter Year 3 of school.

Government free school meals

Free school meal transitional protections

Under the Free School Meal protections policy that was introduced on 1 April 2018, a pupil who was free school meals eligible on 1 April 2018, or who became eligible under the benefits/low-earnings criteria since then (up to 31/03/25) will continue to receive free meals until the end of the phase of education that they are in (i.e. primary or secondary), when the transitional protection period ends.

The transitional protection period for Free School Meals ended on 31 March 2025.

New free school meals applications from 1 April 2025

For all pupils who become eligible for free school meals for the first time from 1 April 2025, their eligibility will be reviewed termly. 

Please notify us or your child’s school if your support under the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999 or the guarantee element of Pension Credit has ended or if you no longer qualify for free school meals under the criteria for families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF).