Free school meals for half a million for kids confirmed in spending review by Chancellor Rachel Reeves
As part of her spending review today, Rachel Reeves announced that every child in a Universal Credit household will now be eligible for state-sponsored lunches.
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Addressing the House of Commons she said: "Last week, this government announced that Free School Meals will be extended to over half a million more children.
"That policy alone will lift 100,000 children out of poverty from Tower Hamlets to Sunderland to Swansea."
Currently, Universal Credit households must earn under £7,400 per year to qualify.
The move is expected to save parents on benefits £500 a year, according to the Department for Education.
Kids in UC households currently not eligible will be able to start claiming lunches from the start of the 2026 school year.
The entitlement will apply in all settings where free school meals are available, including school-based nurseries and further-education settings.
Most parents will be able to apply before the start of the new school year by providing a national insurance number.
Education Secretary Bridget Philipson previously told The Sun the move was a "game changer".
'This will make a big difference to children's attendance and behaviour at school because we know that if kids are hungry, they don't concentrate well."
The expansion of the scheme comes ahead of ahead of the government's Child Poverty Taskforce publishing a ten-year strategy to drive down poverty.
Labour are also facing mounting pressure to scrap the two child benefit cap,
If you are keen to apply for the support you need to do so via your local council.
You can find out what council you are in by visiting www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
Elsewhere, Rachel Reeves also vowed to pump £39billion to build more social and affordable housing across the UK, alongside a new rent policy for social housing starting in 2026.
What age do kids get free school meals in the UK?
In England, all eligible children from reception to year two qualify for free school meals - so kids aged roughly between four and seven.
In Scotland, all children between four and nine will qualify, while in Wales, pupils aged around four get free school meals.
But, of course, all primary school-aged children should be eligible for the scheme by the end of 2024.
That means children between four and 11.
In any part of the UK, from year three onwards, your children could qualify for free school meals.
But this is when the eligibility criteria kicks in, meaning you'll need to be receiving certain benefits and your income may be taken into consideration.
Currently, your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
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 guaranteed 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 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
WHAT OTHER HELP IS AVAILABLE?
You get child benefit if you're responsible for bringing up a child who is under 16 or under 20 if they are in approved education or training
The payment is used to help parents cover the costs of childcare.
It is paid at two weekly rates - £26.05 for your eldest or only child and £17.25 for any additional children.
Payments are usually made every four weeks, on a Monday or Tuesday, but sometimes are made weekly.
If you are claiming child benefit for a child under 12, you also receive National Insurance (NI) credits.
NICs count towards your State Pension so claiming the benefit can be useful if you are missing any.
Parents can also get help with free food vouchers through the government's Household Support Fund.
What help is available for parents?
CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help.
30 hours free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours free childcare a week.
To qualify you must usually work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year.
Tax credits - For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs.
Childcare vouchers - If your employer offers childcare vouchers you can get up to £55 a week in tax and national insurance savings.
You pay for your childcare before your tax contributions are taken out.
This scheme is open to new joiners until October 4, 2018, when it is planned that tax-free childcare will replace the vouchers.
Tax-free childcare - Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2.
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