Income Eligibility Guidelines For Free and Reduced School Lunch
The federal National School Lunch Program provides free and subsidized school meals to students in schools and centers.
The Income Eligibility Guidelines are used to determine student eligibility for free and reduced-price school meals offered through the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, and reimbursement for meals served in child care homes or family day care homes participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. The guidelines are adjusted each year to reflect changes in prices. The 2024 income limits are based on the Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds, rounded to the nearest dollar, and adjusted for household size.
Generally, income includes all sources of cash (before taxes are deducted) such as wages or salary, unemployment compensation, Social Security benefits, worker’s compensation payments and pensions. However, assets such as the value of a house or car and resources that cannot be readily converted to cash, such as retirement savings or bank accounts, are not considered income.
Children in households receiving benefits from SNAP, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, or Cash Assistance are categorically eligible for free meals. In addition, homeless, runaway, and migrant children are also eligible for free meals.
Income Eligibility Guidelines Table 2024 - 2025
| INCOME GUIDELINES FOR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household size | Annual | Monthly | Twice per Month | Every two weeks | Weekly |
| 1 | 26,973 | 2,248 | 1,124 | 1,038 | 519 |
| 2 | 36,482 | 3,041 | 1,521 | 1,404 | 702 |
| 3 | 45,991 | 3,833 | 1,917 | 1,769 | 885 |
| 4 | 55,500 | 4,625 | 2,313 | 2,135 | 1,068 |
| 5 | 65,009 | 5,418 | 2,709 | 2,501 | 1,251 |
| 6 | 74,518 | 6,210 | 3,105 | 2,867 | 1,434 |
| 7 | 84,027 | 7,003 | 3,502 | 3,232 | 1,616 |
| 8 | 93,536 | 7,795 | 3,898 | 3,598 | 1,799 |
| Each additional person: | 9,509 | 793 | 397 | 366 | 183 |
| INCOME GUIDELINES FOR FREE MEALS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household size | Annual | Monthly | Twice per Month | Every two weeks | Weekly |
| 1 | 18,954 | 1,580 | 790 | 729 | 365 |
| 2 | 25,636 | 2,137 | 1,069 | 986 | 493 |
| 3 | 32,318 | 2,694 | 1,347 | 1,243 | 622 |
| 4 | 39,000 | 3,250 | 1,625 | 1,500 | 750 |
| 5 | 45,682 | 3,807 | 1,904 | 1,757 | 879 |
| 6 | 52,364 | 4,364 | 2,182 | 2,014 | 1,007 |
| 7 | 59,046 | 4,921 | 2,461 | 2,271 | 1,136 |
| 8 | 65,728 | 5,478 | 2,739 | 2,528 | 1,264 |
| Each additional person: | 6,682 | 557 | 279 | 257 | 129 |
How Do You Qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch in the U.S.?
Families with a household income below 130 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines are eligible for free meals. Children whose household income is between 133 and 185 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines are eligible for reduced-price meals.
Schools that qualify for the Community Eligibility Provision or that serve students certified as homeless, runaway, or migrant or enrolled in Head Start are categorically eligible for free meals and do not need to submit an application. Some households that receive SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on Indian Reservations, and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations may also be automatically qualified to receive free meals.
The NSLP and SBP are supplemented by the Summer Food Service Program, Special Milk Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program. The Department of Agriculture sets household size and income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meals and free milk each year.
Children from low-income households participate in these programs — known as the Child Nutrition Programs — to get healthy, nutritious meals that help them learn and perform better in school. Research shows that participation in these programs improves academic achievement, attendance, and test scores, and lays the foundation for good health and well-being in young adults.
Using a new system this year, households are required to provide verified documentation of household income. This includes documents like paycheck stubs, W-2 forms, unemployment compensation notices, welfare certification, and more. Additionally, children in foster care, migrant or runaway youth, or those attending Head Start, an at-risk afterschool center, or emergency shelter qualify automatically for free meals. Adults receiving Supplemental Security Income and those participating in the Food Distribution Program on Tribal Lands also qualify.
