Zahawi confirms changes to two-year-old eligibility, free school meals and EYPP

The changes, which will start in April, are being brought in as part of the overhaul of the benefits system with the rollout of universal credit.

The proposals are set out in the Government’s response to two consultations, which covered eligibility for free school meals and the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP), and a separate consultation on the free early education entitlement for two-year-olds under Universal Credit.

Under the plans the Government will introduce an annual net earned income threshold of £15,400 for the two-year-old offer.

For a typical family earning around this threshold, this is equivalent to a household income of between £24,000 and £32,000 once benefits are taken into account. Households earning under this threshold, and receiving universal credit, will be eligible for the free early education entitlement for two-year- olds.

Under this new threshold, the Government estimates that by 2023 around 7,000 more children will benefit from the two-year-old entitlement compared to the previous benefits system.

Mr Zahawi said, ‘It is right that we must continue to offer the most disadvantaged young people additional help and I am pleased that, following public consultations, we can extend free school meals and the free early education entitlement for disadvantaged two-year-olds.