G&B ECEv2: FSM category introduced for Universal Credit expansion 2026 (3.89)
Description
The government is expanding Free School Meals to all children in households receiving Universal Credit.
The Education platform has been updated to support the new split in Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility. This complies with national policy changes for the 2026/27 academic year.
FSM eligibility is now categorised into two tiers:
- Targeted FSM
Existing income threshold - Expanded FSM
Households receiving Universal Credit above the targeted threshold
It ensures systems can correctly interpret and process the new FSM Category (Tier) attribute, maintaining compliance with DfE statutory return requirements.