Expanding the provision of Free School Meals in Wales

Covid 19 has seen food insecurity rise for low income families; more than one third spent more on food.

The current rules for Free School Meals in Wales mean many low income families are often not eligible as their earnings are considered too high.

Our report for the Bevan Foundation and the Wales Anti-Poverty Coalition evaluates the financial cost of extending Free School Meals to all families in receipt of  Universal Credit.

We found that extending provision to children in all Universal Credit households would increase the total cost by £10.5 million per year, from £38.9 million to £49.5 million.

This would allow 99% of families on low income with children aged between four to sixteen to be eligible for FSM, up from 78%.