More than half a million additional children will qualify for free school meals next month as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) extends eligibility criteria. The change, first announced in June last year, will take effect when children return to school in September.
The DWP will extend the current £7,400 income cap to include all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit. The Government has previously said families could save up to £495 per year per child on school lunches as a result.
Government says policy is 'historic step'
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Families up and down the country are feeling the pressure of the cost of living. That’s why this Government is proud to give free school meals to every child from a household on universal credit, alongside expanding childcare and rolling out free breakfast clubs across the country."
"This is a historic step, backed by over £1 billion, and it means 500,000 more children will benefit," they added. "We’re working closely with schools and councils to make sure every eligible family knows about it. So if you’re a parent and you’re not sure whether your child qualifies – just ask the school."
Parents must still apply
While eligibility will be automatically granted to all Universal Credit recipients, families will still need to apply to receive the benefit. A parent will be asked to provide their National Insurance Number to check eligibility.
However, a leading children's charity has urged the Government to do more to inform families of the policy change. The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) found that more than half of parents whose children will be newly eligible in September do not realise they will qualify.
Charity warns of underuse
CPAG's survey, carried out online by pollster Survation between June and early August, found that of 201 parents in England on Universal Credit whose children will qualify from next month, 55% were unaware of the change.
The charity said the Government, rather than "hard-pressed schools and local authorities", should identify and inform newly eligible families, insisting that departments have the "data and the means of informing parents and must utilise these to make sure that all eligible parents know that they qualify and know what they need to do to register".
CPAG's head of education policy, Kate Anstey, said: "Our survey shows wider eligibility for free school meals will give hard-up families some badly-needed breathing space. But September is only weeks away and our new analysis shows the DWP and DfE have left the job half done."
She added: "With so many families struggling, it’s on Government to ensure the country’s children get what little help is available."
Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said the policy change is "enormously welcome" but that "checking eligibility will create additional barriers and unnecessary workload for schools".
"We urge the DWP and DfE to use the records at their disposal to directly inform newly eligible families," he said. "This would ensure they and their children benefit as soon as possible while alleviating the burden on schools and parents. This situation could be avoided entirely through the introduction of auto-enrolment for free school meals, something NAHT has long called for."
Parents can apply for their child to receive free school meals on the gov.uk website.
