Universal Credit rule change under Andy Burnham worth £495 for households

NewsCost Of LivingUniversal CreditWorth around £500 a year per child16:36, 09 Aug 2026Universal Credit claimants will qualify for free school meals for their children from September this year. From September 2026, children in full time education in England will qualify for free school meals, worth around £500 a year per child, if their parents or carers get any amount of Universal Credit.‌You previously had to earn less that £7,400 a year in addition to getting Universal Credit in order to be eligible. The Department for Education previously said: "Over half a million additional pupils will become eligible for Free School Meals under the new eligibility criteria."‌The change was confirmed by the previous government - but it will now fall on Labour Party Prime Minister Andy Burnham to overs