Changes from September
From the academic year 2026 to 2027, the government will extend Free School Meals to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit. This represents a significant expansion of food support to households, reaching over half a million children. However, HAF (the Holiday Activities and Food programme) eligibility will not expand in line with this change. HAF will remain a targeted programme, aligned to the existing FSM threshold ('targeted FSM'), to ensure the programme continues to reach those it is designed to support.
Free school meals for children in households with household income below the existing threshold which is £7400. This group remains eligible for HAF
From September 2026, FSM will also be available to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit who have a household income of more than £7400. This expansion does not include HAF eligibility.
Transitional protections have been in place since 2018 to ensure no one who gained Free School Meal eligibility would lose it while Universal Credit is rolled out. These protections ended at the end of 2025-2026 academic year. This means some children who currently access HAF because of FSM protections will no longer be eligible after the 2026 summer holiday. This is because their family circumstances mean they no longer meet the Targeted FSM threshold.
Manchester schools
We can only provide free school meals if your child's school is in the area covered by Manchester City Council. If it isn't, you'll need to find out which authority is responsible for the school and contact them for advice.
Who is eligible?
Your child may qualify for free school meals if you get any of the following:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- the guaranteed part of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (as long as your annual gross income is £16,190 or less and you don’t get Working Tax Credit)
- Working Tax Credit run-off after you come off Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit that you applied for on, or after, 1 April 2018. As long as your household income is less than £7,400 a year after tax, not including any benefits
Additional information
- In addition, ALL children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 can get free school meals - whatever your income. However, if you have one of the qualifying incomes it will help the school if you tell them this, so they can get extra funding.
- Children who are younger than the compulsory age for starting school but in full-time education, can also get free school meals.
- Your child may also qualify if you are an asylum seeker, or if they receive any of these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian.
If your child qualifies and attends a Trafford school, but you do not live in Trafford, you will be a sent a supermarket voucher automatically through your school.
Please note: If your school doesn't appear on the list provided in the form or you have a specific query, you'll need to contact the school directly.
Information and support for when your child leaves secondary school
Changes to benefits when your child turns 16 – get advice from the Gingerbread charity
There's also a Government education bursary for 16-19 year olds. This can help with the cost of books, transport and the cost of meals on days when you are in education or training. Find out more about the Government education bursary.
There's also more general advice about next steps after finishing at school for young people.