Households across the UK can access various schemes offering free or discounted food, including supermarket items and hot meals. While there is no single discount card for all benefit recipients, options exist for those meeting specific criteria.
The NHS Healthy Start scheme provides a prepaid card for eligible pregnant individuals and families with young children. This card can be used for items such as plain cow's milk, infant formula, and fresh, frozen, or tinned fruit and vegetables at participating stores. Free vitamins are also available through the scheme.
Community Shops, with 15 locations nationwide, offer heavily discounted surplus groceries and household essentials to members living within their catchment areas. Membership is free for eligible individuals. Additionally, Community Groceries provide affordable food in a shop-style setting, with an annual membership fee of £5, and some branches offer Pay-It-Forward support.
For free hot meals, FoodCycle uses surplus ingredients to provide community meals without the need for referrals or income proof. The Olio app also connects volunteers and neighbours for the collection of surplus food from local businesses. Furthermore, children in England whose households receive Universal Credit are entitled to free school meals from the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year, and may also qualify for free places in the Holiday Activities and Food programme during some school holidays.