United Kingdom: Expansion of Free School Meals to Combat Child Poverty

The UK government has announced a significant expansion of its free school meals program, aiming to provide meals to all children in households receiving Universal Credit. This policy change, set to take effect from September 2026, is expected to benefit approximately 500,000 additional children. Previously, eligibility was limited to families earning less than £7,400 annually, excluding benefits.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the initiative as a "down payment on child poverty," emphasizing its role in alleviating financial pressures on families and improving children's learning conditions. The Department for Education estimates that this expansion will lift around 100,000 children out of poverty and save families on benefits approximately £500 per child annually.

While the move has been widely welcomed, some critics point out that concurrent welfare cuts, including a £5 billion reduction in disability benefits, may offset the gains from the free meals initiative. Advocacy groups are urging the government to consider further measures, such as abolishing the two-child benefit cap, to more effectively tackle child poverty.