Apply for Free School Meals
& Help Unlock Government Funding for Your Child's School!
Is My Child Eligible for Free School Meals?
Your child may qualify for free school meals if you receive certain benefits. Any parent or carer in England can check here, even if your child's school isn't signed up. It's free to use (run by LGfL, an education charity) and you'll get an instant result checked securely against government records.
Qualifying benefits include
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Child Tax Credit (if not receiving Working Tax Credit)
- Working Tax Credit run-on
Conditions apply to some benefits – the quickest way to find out is to run a check.
Free School Meals Expansion from September 2026
From September 2026, free school meals in England are expanding to all children in a household that receives Universal Credit, regardless of how much you earn. It's one of the biggest changes to free school meals in years, with over half a million more children expected to qualify.
You don't need to wait until September to find out. Run a free eligibility check now and you'll see straight away whether your child qualifies today, or will qualify from September 2026.
If eligible
Your child gets a free, nutritious lunch every school day.
Save around £500 per child, per year on the cost of school lunches.
May unlock additional Pupil Premium funding for your school – supporting things like tutoring, trips and clubs.
Your child's school is notified automatically if they use the checker, or simply share your email receipt with them as proof of eligibility.
Find Out More
Parents & Carers
Checking for Eligibility
Your child may be eligible for free school meals if you receive certain state benefits.
- Get a result in minutes
- Just a simple online form to complete
- Obtain additional funding for your child's school
- No need to reapply
Schools & Local Authorities
Sign Up For Free
Schools and Local Authorities in England can use this website completely free!
- Increase Pupil Premium funding
- Simplify the FSM eligibility process
- Bulk upload and easily recheck applications
- Reduce admin time
Trusted
LGfL is a not-for-profit charity trusted by thousands of schools.
£232M+
In potential FSM related funding identified for schools so far.
Established 2001
Delivering reliable services to schools for over two decades.
"LGfL's updated Free School Meal Eligibility Checker provides an invaluable free service to over 4,000 schools, removing barriers for families and ensuring no child misses out."
Winner -
Education Resources Awards 2026