Apply for free school meals

Important information regarding the provision of free school meals

From September 2026, the free school meals (FSM) eligibility criteria is changing. The Department for Education’s (DfE) changes means that all families who have previously made an application for FSM must be reassessed in August 2026. Only families who meet the eligibility criteria will be entitled to FSM from September 2026. 

A key change is that all families receiving Universal Credit (UC) will be entitled to FSM regardless of their income. Further information about eligibility criteria is available below. 

If you have applied for FSM in the past, we will automatically recheck your details and let you know whether you are entitled to FSM via the email address you provided on your application. If you do not hear from us by the end of August 2026, you can contact the Pupil Benefits team or your child’s school to check your entitlement. 

If you have never applied for FSM, please read the information below and apply. 

Eligibility for free school meals

To apply online and qualify for FSM, your child must be in a Hackney school and you must be receiving one of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• Guarantee element of State Pension

If you are a family with no recourse to public funds, you may still be entitled to FSM. Please read the section below for information about who can apply. 

Entitlement for children attending primary school

All children attending primary school in Hackney are entitled to free school meals regardless of the family income.

However, it is very important that you apply for free meals if you meet the eligibility criteria so that your child’s school can claim extra funding that will benefit your child.

Schools can only claim this funding for children who are or have been entitled to FSM in the last 6 years. Schools rely on the funding to improve educational outcomes for children in a variety of ways. For example, increasing teacher training and development, providing small group or 121 tuition, purchasing resources and assisting with the cost of activities such as educational trips and after-school clubs.

Entitlement for nursery aged children

In addition to families meeting the eligibility criteria, children attending school-based nurseries and state funded nursery schools must be receiving full-time education, or if part time, must be receiving education both before and after the lunch period in order to receive FSM.

Entitlement for children attending secondary school

Families of children attending secondary school in Hackney, including in the sixth form, will have to pay for school meals unless they meet the eligibility criteria.

Children over 16, who are receiving benefits and meet the eligibility criteria can also apply for free school meals.

Asylum seekers

Families receiving support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 with an asylum support reference (previously NASS) number can apply for free school meals. Asylum support reference numbers are usually 9 digits and in the format of ‘YY/MM/12345’. These numbers can be followed by /001, /002, /003, etc. which identifies each individual member of the family.

You must complete the free school meal application and also email pupilbenefits@hackney.gov.uk with a copy or photo of your Home Office letter that shows your Asylum Support.

If you are yet to receive your Asylum Support Reference number or are in possession of an ARC card please email  pupilbenefits@hackney.gov.uk with proof of your ARC card or your Home Office letter that shows your Asylum Support.

Children with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

Eligibility for free school meals has permanently been extended to all children in households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to maximum income thresholds.

These groups are:

• Zambrano carers
• families who have no recourse to public funds 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
• families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction
• a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Chen carers
• families holding a BN(O) passport
• spousal visa holders
• work visa holders
• student visa holders
• those with no immigration status

Under the permanent extension of free school meal eligibility to all NRPF groups, the annual household income thresholds for those families able to work are:

• £22,700 for families outside of London with 1 child
• £26,300 for families outside of London with 2 or more children
• £31,200 for families within London with 1 child
• £34,800 for families within London with 2 or more children

In addition to these thresholds, families must hold no more than £16,000 in capital and savings.

You can find detailed government guidance for the permanent extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups on the GOV.UK website. 

Please contact your child’s school to apply for free school meals under this category. Do not complete the free school meal application form below. 

How to apply

Please apply if your child attends a school in Hackney. If your child attends a school in another local authority, please apply directly to that local authority.

Once your application has been processed, your child’s school will be notified of the outcome. This usually takes around 5 school days. 

If you are eligible, the school will organise a free school meal for your child(ren). If you are not eligible for free school meals or you are waiting for a benefit application to be approved and need food urgently, please see information about help and support from Hackney Council.