Scotland is widening access to free school meals from 1 April 2026. Regulations published on legislation.gov.uk (SSI 2026/19), signed by Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth on 21 January and laid before the Scottish Parliament on 23 January, raise the Universal Credit earnings cap to £995 a month and add Pension Credit (under the State Pension Credit Act 2002) to the list of qualifying benefits.

Practically, a pupil qualifies if they or their parents receive Universal Credit and the latest complete monthly assessment period shows earned income at or below £995. For couples, councils look at the combined earnings for that same month. The measurement point is the assessment period immediately before the application.

The change moves the cap from £850 to £995. The £850 level was set by the 2025 regulations (SSI 2025/44). In money terms this brings back into scope families whose pay nudges around the threshold because of overtime, rota changes or seasonal hours.

Adding Pension Credit creates a clear entitlement for families where a parent is retired and on a low income. The Regulations make the position explicit and reduce uncertainty for schools and families about whether a Pension Credit award should trigger eligibility.

For a household budget, the saving is tangible. Paying for a school lunch five days a week costs a few pounds a day; spread across roughly 38 term weeks, that adds up. For parents working variable hours, the new cap should reduce the risk of dipping in and out of eligibility month to month.

Parents do not need to do complex calculations. The figure that matters is the earned‑income total shown on the Universal Credit award statement for the most recent complete month. If your award for that month shows £995 or less, you should qualify; if it is higher, try again after the next assessment period if hours fall.

Schools and local authorities now have a short window to update forms and guidance before the rules start on 1 April. For couples, expect to be asked for both UC award statements so that combined earnings can be confirmed. Families on Pension Credit should provide their latest Pension Credit award letter.

This sits alongside Scotland’s universal provision for P1 to P5 and for pupils in special schools, with means‑tested support for others. The Regulations widen the means‑tested route; they do not alter the universal offer already in place.

The Explanatory Note on legislation.gov.uk summarises the test and does not include an estimate of how many households will benefit. If ministers publish a fuller impact assessment, we will return to the numbers and any local take‑up patterns.

For families, the next step is straightforward. From April, check your UC journal or Pension Credit letter, apply via your local authority or your child’s school, and keep the award statements handy for verification. If you were close to the old £850 cap, this change is likely to tip the decision in your favour.