Eleanor Finch
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) provide free or reduced-price meals to students who meet certain income criteria. The income eligibility guidelines are adjusted annually and are based on the federal income poverty guidelines, with the aim to direct benefits to those children most in need. Weekly income calculations are made by dividing the annual income by 52. This paragraph introduces the topic of income eligibility for free or reduced-price lunches and provides context for understanding if a weekly income of 584 falls within the criteria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 |
| Adjustments | Annual |
| Purpose | To determine eligibility for free and reduced-price meals, free milk, and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits |
| Programs | National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program |
| Basis | Federal income poverty guidelines |
| Calculation | Weekly income is computed by dividing annual income by 52 |
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What You'll Learn
Income Eligibility Guidelines
The Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs) are annual adjustments made by the Department of Agriculture to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price meals or free milk. These guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. The adjustments are required by Section 9 of the National School Lunch Act.
The guidelines are intended to direct benefits to those children most in need and are revised annually to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index. The eligibility criteria are based on household size and are calculated using different formulas depending on the frequency of income payments. For instance, monthly income is calculated by dividing the annual income by 12, while weekly income is computed by dividing the annual income by 52. All numbers are then rounded up to the next whole dollar.
The Department's guidelines for free meals, milk, and reduced-price meals are obtained by multiplying the Federal income poverty guidelines by specific values and rounding the result upward to the next whole dollar. For example, in 2024, the Federal income poverty guidelines were multiplied by 1.30 for free meals and 1.85 for reduced-price meals.
"Income" is defined as income before any deductions, such as income taxes, Social Security taxes, insurance premiums, charitable contributions, and bonds. It includes monetary compensation for services, net income from self-employment, Social Security, dividends or interest, net rental income, public assistance payments, unemployment compensation, retirement or pension payments, alimony or child support payments, and other cash income.
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National School Lunch Program
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946. The program provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The National School Lunch Act is a federal law that created the NSLP to provide low-cost or free school lunch meals to qualified students through subsidies to schools. The program was designed to support food prices by absorbing farm surpluses and provide meals to school-age children.
The NSLP serves 30.5 million children each day, and most participants are eligible for food during the summer through the Summer Food Service Program. The program's eligibility criteria are based on household size and income, with adjustments made annually to direct benefits to those most in need. Schools receive cash reimbursements for each meal served and are also entitled to receive commodity foods and additional commodities from surplus agricultural stocks.
The NSLP has undergone several modifications since its inception. In 1962, Congress amended the NSLP to adjust fund distribution, taking into account the state's poverty level compared to the national poverty level. In 1968, Congress improved the food options to accommodate students with special dietary needs. The nutrition standards for the NSLP were updated in 2012, requiring larger portions of fruits and vegetables and enforcing various other nutritional requirements, such as limiting the amount of added trans fat, saturated fat, and total fat in meals.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA issued waivers to allow for flexibility in implementing the NSLP and expanded the scope of its Seamless Summer Option. Additionally, the USDA created the temporary Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program to reimburse families with children eligible for free or reduced-price school meals for missed meals due to pandemic-related disruptions.
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School Breakfast Program
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federal program that provides nutritious morning meals to millions of children, helping families ensure their children have the focus and energy they need for their school day. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is available to any public school, nonprofit private school, or residential child care institution. Schools that participate in the SBP receive federal funds for each breakfast served.
Meals served through the SBP must meet federal nutrition standards, which were updated in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 to align with the Federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Research has shown that children with access to the SBP are more likely to eat breakfast, and that this is associated with a lower body mass index (BMI). Other studies have found that school meals contributed positively to the diet quality of participating students.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA issued waivers allowing for flexibility in the implementation of the SBP and expanded the scope and coverage of the program's Seamless Summer Option (SSO). These waivers expired in June 2022, and the reintroduction of prices for some students may have increased financial hardship for families.
Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals through the SBP is based on household income or participation in other government programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Community eligibility allows high-poverty schools and districts to offer breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students.
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Special Milk Program
The Special Milk Program (SMP) provides milk to students in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve who do not have access to other Federal child nutrition meal service programs (i.e. the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP)). The program is usually administered at the state level by state education agencies, which operate the program through agreements with school food authorities (SFAs). SFAs are reimbursed for milk served to students in half-pint increments.
There is no federal requirement to offer milk at no charge; instead, pricing is based on the option selected by the school. SFAs have three different pricing options: pricing (with free milk option), pricing (without free milk option), and non-pricing. SFAs are required to provide milk substitutions for children with a disability that restricts their diet on a case-by-case basis when supported by a signed medical statement. Milk substitutions not supported by a signed medical statement are at the SFA’s discretion and must have the same nutritional composition as cow’s milk and have approval from the relevant authorities.
Reimbursement provided to schools should be maximized to reduce the cost of milk to students. It is recommended to charge the difference between the anticipated per half-pint milk cost and the reimbursement rate. Schools can add on 2 cents to cover any milk price adjustments and administrative costs associated with SMP. Financial records must be kept to document SMP revenue and expenditures, and funds must be utilized to provide milk at no cost or at a low cost to children.
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Child and Adult Care Food Program
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults enrolled in care at participating child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. The program aims to ensure that children have access to nutritious food year-round and that adults in non-residential care also receive healthy meals and snacks.
The CACFP serves children in child care centers, homes, emergency shelters, and after-school programs. It also provides reimbursements for meals served to children participating in after-school care programs and children residing in emergency shelters. The program recognizes the importance of early access to nutritious meals and physical activity in establishing positive lifelong habits.
For adults, the CACFP serves those aged 60 and above or living with a disability and enrolled in day care facilities. Public or private nonprofit adult day care facilities that provide structured, comprehensive services to non-residential adults who are functionally impaired or aged 60 and older may participate in the CACFP as independent or sponsored centers.
The National CACFP Association (NCA) has been the leading national organization administering the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program since 1986. The NCA provides education, information on legislation, regulation, and advocacy, and resources to support the CACFP community. The CACFP is committed to ensuring that every child has access to nutritious food and that adults in care receive the healthy meals they need to thrive.
While I cannot directly determine if $584 a week constitutes eligibility for free or reduced lunches, the provided sources outline the eligibility criteria for free and reduced-price meals, which are adjusted annually. These guidelines are based on federal income poverty guidelines and are determined by household size.
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Frequently asked questions
Eligibility for free or reduced lunches is determined by the annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines. These guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National School Lunch Program. Weekly income is computed by dividing annual income by 52. All numbers are rounded upward to the next whole dollar. Please contact our office at (800) 354-3663 for more information.
The income eligibility criterion for free lunches for the period from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, was obtained by multiplying the year 2024 Federal income poverty guidelines by 1.30 and then rounding the result upward to the next whole dollar.
The income eligibility criterion for reduced-price lunches for the period from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, was obtained by multiplying the year 2024 Federal income poverty guidelines by 1.85 and then rounding the result upward to the next whole dollar.
