From 1 April 2026, more pupils in Scotland will qualify for a free school lunch. New regulations laid before the Scottish Parliament on 23 January 2026 raise the Universal Credit earnings cap for eligibility to £995 for the assessment period before an application, and add State Pension Credit as a qualifying route.

Put simply, if a parent on Universal Credit earned £995 or less in the last monthly assessment period, their child can receive a free school lunch. For couples on Universal Credit, the same £995 cap applies to their combined earned income in that month.

These rules sit under section 53 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, which requires education authorities to provide a school lunch free of charge to eligible pupils. The statutory instrument is the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (Modification) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/19), published on legislation.gov.uk.

The Regulations were made on 21 January 2026 and signed by Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth at St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh. They amend section 53(7)(c) by substituting the previous £850 figure with £995 and insert a new paragraph to include parents in receipt of State Pension Credit.

For councils and schools, the job now is practical: update application forms, refresh school communications and plan catering budgets for the summer term. The start date is 1 April, so expect local guidance ahead of that date rather than the new tax year.

Parents should apply through their local council website and keep a note of the Universal Credit assessment period used, along with payslips or earnings records if asked. If a parent is on State Pension Credit, that evidence will also support eligibility without the Universal Credit earnings check.

This is a Scotland‑only decision. Families relocating between Scotland and northern England should be aware that each nation sets its own free school meal criteria. Check with your new local authority or school office before the move to avoid gaps in support.

An example helps: a single parent with £940 earned in the most recent assessment period would meet the threshold; a couple with £980 combined earnings would also qualify. If earnings in that month reached £1,020, the application would not meet the new cap.

The Regulations take effect on 1 April 2026. Schools and councils will set their own processing timelines; families should watch for updates on council pages and school newsletters.

According to the Scottish Government’s explanatory note and the entry on legislation.gov.uk, the previous £850 cap was set by SSI 2025/44. This update lifts it to £995 and adds State Pension Credit to the list of qualifying benefits under section 53 of the 1980 Act.