Guidance

Providing free school meals to families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

Updated 7 October 2026

Applies to England

This is non-statutory guidance that explains the new free school meals (FSM) eligibility criteria for children in households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF). It explains who can apply, and how schools can verify their eligibility and award free school meals. 

Most categories of temporary immigration permission fall under ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF). 

From the academic year 2026 to 2027, eligible children in households with NRPF will continue to be eligible for FSM.  

However, as free school meals have expanded, there will be 2 categories for free school meals, each with their own set of income thresholds: 

• ‘targeted’ free school meals with NRPF thresholds 
• ‘expanded’ free school meals with NRPF thresholds

‘Targeted’ income thresholds 

‘Targeted’ free school meals with NRPF thresholds are linked to the existing £7,400 income threshold. The thresholds have increased in line with Universal Credit rates.  

As well as free meals, pupils eligible under the targeted free school meals NRPF thresholds will:  

• attract pupil premium and other disadvantage funding for their schools 
• have eligibility for the Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF)  
• have eligibility for the ‘extended rights’ element of school travel assistance 

‘Expanded’ income thresholds  

Expanded’ free school meals is a new category covering pupils who do not qualify under the ‘targeted’ free school meals with NRPF thresholds, but who are in households that meet the new expanded income thresholds. These thresholds are based on the average income of Universal Credit households that are eligible for expanded free school meals. These pupils will qualify for meals only.

Eligible groups

These groups include, but may not be limited to children of:

• Zambrano carers - primary carers of British citizen children or dependent adults who have a right to reside because the British citizen would be unable to remain in the UK without their care
• 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
• individuals supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Chen carers - primary carers of certain EEA citizen children who have a derivative right to reside in the UK because the child would be unable to remain in the UK without them
• families holding a BN(O) passport
• spousal visa holders
• work visa holders
• student visa holders
• those with no immigration status

The maximum income threshold differs based on location and the number of children that the family has.

Income thresholds

If a child has parents who have NRPF, the child will be eligible for free school meals if their parents or carers total household income is less than the annual household net income threshold.  

Children can only be eligible under the targeted or expanded FSM NRPF thresholds. 

Targeted’ free school meal NRPF thresholds  

The annual household income thresholds are: 

• £28,500 for families outside of London with 1 child 
• £29,400 for families outside of London with 2 or more children 
• £32,700 for families in London with 1 child 
• £34,800 for families in London with 2 or more children 

Expanded FSM NRPF thresholds 

The annual household income thresholds are: 

• £29,400 for families outside of London with 1 child 
• £37,300 for families outside of London with 2 or more children 
• £35,000 for families within London with 1 child 
• £43,100 for families within London with 2 or more children

The family’s address will determine if a person will be considered inside the London or outside London maximum. 

If they live in one of the 32 London boroughs or the City of London, the inside London maximum will apply. If they do not live in one of these areas, the outside-of London maximum will apply. 

This map shows the boroughs of London. 

If a child’s parent gets support provided under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, then the child is already eligible for targeted free school meals. More details are in the Free school meals: guidance for local authorities, local-authority-maintained schools, academies and free schools - GOV.UK.

Capital thresholds 

As well as meeting one of the above set of income thresholds, the child’s parents or carers must hold no more than £16,000 in capital and savings.

Providing an application form

We have provided a sample application form, including a self-declaration that you can provide to parents or carers for verifying eligibility.

The form is designed for applicants to complete themselves, but we appreciate that individual circumstances may make this difficult, and schools can assist with the completion if required.

Use of the sample application form is not mandatory. You can create your own form if you prefer.

Recording free school meals eligibility in the school census

You should record eligible free school meals pupils who qualify through the NRPF criteria in the termly school census, in the same way as all other free school meals pupils.

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, school census returns must state if pupils who are eligible for FSM meet the targeted or expanded criteria. 

Eligibility for free meals should be kept under regular review through annual rechecks. 

As a one-off arrangement for the autumn 2026 census, and to support this guidance, settings may complete FSM eligibility checks up to and including 2 November 2026. This is instead of the usual 1 October deadline. Eligibility checks completed by this date and recorded through the autumn census will be factored into funding allocations.

You should retain evidence of the application including the self-declaration and any supporting documentation for usual audit purposes.

Confirming NRPF status

We have provided examples of how families can demonstrate their NRPF status. This list is not necessarily exhaustive, and parents or carers may be able to provide alternative evidence not listed. 

In all cases, the parent or carer should complete and sign the self-declaration form to confirm: 

• they have NRPF 
• on what basis they have NRPF 
• that they are eligible for FSM under the targeted or expanded free school meals NRPF limits 
• that they do not have a total household net income above the maximum income for their area 
• that they do not have capital (including savings and investments) of over £16,000, either jointly or as a single parent 

Schools are not able to use the department’s new digital checking service to confirm eligibility for these families as the family will not be in receipt of Universal Credit or legacy benefits.

Article 8 of the ECHR

Families will be able to provide a letter from the Home Office granting them leave to remain in the UK or an eVisa or biometric residence card.

Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Families will be able to provide a letter from the Home Office or local authority confirming Section 4 support or an Aspen card. Individuals can also request proof of support from the Home Office at any time, by emailing proofofsupport@migranthelpuk.org.

BN(O) passport holders

Families will be able to show either a BN(O) passport or visa.

Spouse, work or student visa holders

Families will be able to show their visa.

Zambrano or Chen carers

In many (but not all) cases, the family will be able to show a derivative residence card. If they do not hold this, they must be able to show that:

• the carer or parent is not a British citizen
• the child is a British citizen
• the carer is a direct relative or legal guardian of the child, and they have the primary responsibility for the child
• there are no other members of the carers’ family in the UK or the EEA who could look after the child

Confirming income

Check the income thresholds for your area.

Families should complete a self-declaration of their income as part of their application.

To verify this, we recommend that schools should ask to see one of the following:

• payslip
• P60 end of year tax certificate
• bank statement
• letter from their bank
• letter from their employer
• letter from the local authority confirming support if applicable
• letter from a charity or person providing financial support