Recommendation 5

Limitations in the data shared between the Department and the Department for Work & Pensions meant that support for vulnerable families with children eligible for free school meals could not be routed through the benefits system. In March 2020, the Department’s preferred option for support was an uplift to benefits for families with children eligible for free school meals. However, not all families in receipt of Universal Credit are eligible for free school meals and the Department does not share data with the Department for Work & Pensions that would allow benefit payments to be targeted in this way. The Department therefore concluded that it would not be possible, in the time available, to implement a support scheme through the benefits system by distinguishing families eligible for free school meals from other benefit recipients. Recommendation: The Department should work with the Department for Work & Pensions to explore how data sharing could be improved to allow government to support families with children eligible for free school meals more flexibly and responsively. COVID 19: the free school meals voucher scheme 7 1 Setting up the voucher scheme