The Children's Society estimate that 1 million school children – including an estimated 24,000 across Merseyside - will be affected by the government’s plans to change the eligibility criteria for free school meals, meaning that from April any new families on Universal Credit in England who earn more than £7,400 a year will lose out. 

Most of those affected are in working families.

Earn £7,399 and your child gets free meals all year. Earn £7,401 and they get nothing. Once a family with one child passes the £7,400 mark, they would need to earn an extra £1,000 a year, working 2.4 hours more each week at the national living wage, to cover the cost.

We are calling on the government to protect the poorest children by ensuring that they aren't going hungry throughout the school day.