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Free School Meals

Types of Free School Meals from 1 September 2026

There will be three types of Free School Meals:

1. Expanded Free School Meals

This provides:

  • Term-time meals only.

You may qualify if:

  • Your child attends a state school.
  • You receive Universal Credit with a household income over £7,400 per year or over £616 per month for the last 3 months, after tax (excluding benefits). 

2. Targeted Free School Meals

Benefit-based eligibility

You may qualify if your child attends a state school and you receive:

  • Universal Credit with household income under £7,400 per year or under £616 per month for the last 3 months after tax (excluding benefits).
  • Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
  • Guaranteed Pension Credit.
  • Income-based Employment and Support Allowance.
Immigration-based eligibility

You may also qualify under certain immigration conditions, including:

  • Zambrano carers.
  • Families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) with leave under Article 8.
  • Families supported under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 with NRPF.
  • Certain supported failed asylum seekers (Section 4).
  • Chen carers.
  • BN(O) passport holders.
  • Spousal, work, or student visa holders.
  • Individuals with no immigration status.
Financial criteria for immigration cases
  • £22,700 annual income for families with 1 child.
  • £26,300 annual income for families with 2 or more children.
  • Savings must be under £16,000.

How to apply

Please click here to apply to Worcestershire County Council via their online portal.

FSM Application

 

3. Universal Infant Free School Meals

This applies to families who don’t meet the criteria above and whose child is in year groups:

  • Reception
  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Provides:

  • Term-time meals only.

No application is needed; if you order school meals from The Deli, Pershore, you will not be charged for these meals.

 

HAF (Holidays, Activities, and Food) Programme

This is a Department for Education (DfE)-funded programme aimed at enabling children and young people in receipt of benefits-related free school meals (FSM) to attend school holiday activities and experiences during Easter, Summer and Christmas.

Please click here for more information:

https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/council-services/childrens-social-care/virtual-family-hub/holiday-activities-and-food-haf-programme

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