{
 "id": "free_school_meals_threshold",
 "name": "Free school meals eligibility (England)",
 "category": "benefits",
 "value": "\u00a37,400/year net earned income threshold \u2014 ABOLISHED from Sept 2026: all Universal Credit households eligible",
 "unit": "per year",
 "valid_from": "2018-04-01",
 "valid_to": "2026-08-31",
 "source_url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-school-meals-expansion-impact-on-poverty-levels/free-school-meals-expansion-to-all-children-on-universal-credit-impact-on-individual-and-child-poverty-levels-and-number-of-children-in-households-r",
 "source_org": "DfE / gov.uk",
 "confidence": "verified",
 "checked_at": "2026-08-11",
 "notes": "From September 2026 eligibility expands to all children in UC families \u2014 major change.",
 "history": [
  "\u00a37,400 threshold from 2018-04-01"
 ]
}