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The government in England has announced that starting in September 2026, any child whose parents receive Universal Credit will be eligible to claim free school meals, regardless of their household income. Presently, families must earn less than £7,400 annually to qualify for this benefit. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that this change will make an additional 500,000 pupils eligible, benefiting families in need. To support this initiative, the Department for Education has allocated £1bn to cover the costs up to 2029.
Recent weeks have seen Labour under scrutiny for its approach to addressing child poverty. While the government’s decision to provide free school meals to eligible children is expected to save parents around £500 per year and potentially lift 100,000 children out of poverty, critics argue that alternative measures, such as removing the two-child benefit cap, may be more cost-effective in reducing poverty levels. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) pointed out that the new rule change might not have as significant an impact on child poverty as projected by the government due to existing protections in place since 2018.
Despite the potential limitations, the education sector and organizations dedicated to combating child poverty have largely welcomed the announcement. Nick Harrison from the Sutton Trust charity described the move as a significant step towards alleviating hunger in classrooms, while Pepe Di’Iasio of the Association of School and College Leaders union labeled it as great news. However, Kate Anstey from the Child Poverty Action Group emphasized the need for further action from the government in addressing child poverty, calling it a “game-changer” but urging for more comprehensive measures to be taken. Liberal Democrats spokesperson Munira Wilson also highlighted the need for additional steps, such as auto-enrolling eligible children for free school meals and lifting the two-child benefit cap, to truly impact the lives of children in poverty.
Presently, approximately 2.1 million children in England receive free school meals, which amounts to 24.6% of the total pupil population. Eligibility criteria include receiving Universal Credit and having a household income below £7,400 per year, post-tax, until the new changes take effect in September next year. While families must apply for this benefit, concerns have been raised about eligible children missing out due to various barriers. In response to this issue, calls have been made for automatic enrollment of eligible children to ensure that all in need receive the support they require
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