Education

Applying for free school meals

Universal Infant Free School Meals (UFISM)

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 at state schools in England automatically get free school meals which is seperate from the benefits-realted free school meals that families can apply for.

However, parents and guardians are encouraged to apply for benefits-related free school meals when they enrol their child in school, as this can help their child’s school to attract additional ‘pupil premium‘ funding to support learning.

Over half a million additional pupils will become eligible for Free School Meals under the new eligibility criteria. The change means that all households receiving Universal Credit, above the current £7,400 income cap, will qualify for this support.

There will be two levels of eligibility for free school meals: Targeted Free School Meals and Expanded Free School Meals.

Targeted Free School Meals

Families may qualify for Targeted Free School Meals if they receive:

  • Universal Credit and have an annual household income of less than £7,400.
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • The guarantee element of Pension Credit
  • Meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the separate guidance below for families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).

Families eligible for Targeted Free School Meals will also be able to access additional support, such as Pupil Premium and the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme.

Expanded Free School Meals

Families will qualify for Targeted Free School Meals if they receive:

  • Universal Credit and have household earnings above £7,400 per year.

Families eligible for Expanded Free School Meals with receive free school meals only.

School children living on their own (16-19 year olds) who receive a qualifying benefit in their own right can also get free school meals.

How to apply

If your child attends a state school in Devon, Plymstock School or Coombe Dean School, with a free school meal claim that is currently in a different local authority (such as Plymouth City Council), you will need to reapply with us in order to maintain their entitlement. Please submit a new application through our Citizens Portal before the start of the next academic year – September 2026.

We have implemented an opt-out auto-award process in which we can automatically identify pupils who are eligible for Free School Meals but are not already claiming. These checks are taking place yearly so you may not need to apply.

However, you can apply as normal through the Devon Citizens Portal. This is the quickest and easiest way to apply and will result in you getting an instant decision. If you need assistance when making the online application, you can call the Education Helpline on 0345 155 1019.

Please note that applications at the following schools should be made direct to the school:

  • Glendinning School
  • West Exe Nursery School

Devon also administers free school meals applications for Plymstock School and Coombe Dean School. If your child attends one of these schools, you should apply through us. Following the end of transitional protection in July 2026, if your child attends one of these schools and was previously receiving free school meals through another local authority (for example, Plymouth City Council), you will need to submit a new application through the Citizens Portal to ensure their entitlement continues.

If you believe you are eligible for Free School Meals but your child has been placed by Devon County Council as EOTAS or at an Independent Provision, you will not be able to use the Citizens Portal to apply. Please email us at freeschoolmeals@devon.gov.uk and we can support you with a manual application for your child.

No recourse to public funds (NRPF)

Eligibility for free school meals has been permanently extended to children from all families with NRPF, subject to the following maximum income thresholds:

  • £22,700 per annum for families outside London with one child
  • £26,300 per annum for families outside London with two or more children

These groups include:

  • children of Zambrano carers
  • NRPF families with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
  • NRPF families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989
  • a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Chen carers or families holding a BN(O) passport
  • spousal visa holders
  • work visa holders
  • student visa holders
  • those with no immigration status

If you think you may be eligible, please complete the application form for free school meals from families with NRPF and return it to us with the relevant supporting documents for both the immigration category and income. Your child’s school may be able to assist with the completion of the form.

Any applications submitted without supporting documents will be refused.