From the start of the 2026 school year, every pupil whose household is on Universal Credit will have the entitlement.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: ‘This expansion is a truly historic moment for our country, helping families who need it most and delivering our Plan for Change to give every child, no matter their background, the same chance to succeed.'

The Government said the move, which is equivalent to an extra £500 per household per year, would lift 100,000 children in England out of poverty.

It comes ahead of the publication later this year of the Child Poverty Taskforce's 10-year strategy and follows the raising of the National Minimum Wage and supporting 700,000 families through the Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.

However, the Government has come under fire for a package disability and health-related benefit cuts announced in March.

Cllr Arooj Shah, chair of the Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board, said: ‘No child should go hungry and expanding free school meals to all those in receipt of Universal Credit has been a longstanding ask of the LGA and councils.

‘This move will certainly have a positive impact. Making it easier for more children to have a healthy, nutritious meal will make a real difference to their health, wellbeing and attainment.

‘Councils still face data sharing and resource challenges in ensuring as many eligible children as possible receive what they are entitled to. 

‘Introducing automatic enrolment, using existing Government data to capture all those who are entitled to free school meals, would also streamline the process and ensure as many children as possible can benefit, at a time when many families are still under financial pressure.'