Free or reduced-price school meals: you can apply any time of year

Steps

1. If your income dropped, you lost a job or your household grew, don't wait for next fall. Ask the school office or district nutrition department for a meal application, or find it on the district website.
2. Getting SNAP? USDA says all your children who attend school automatically qualify for free meals. TANF also gives automatic eligibility. Ask the school whether you still need to fill anything out.
3. Getting WIC or unemployment benefits? USDA says you may also be eligible, so ask the school.
4. Fill out one application per household if your district allows it, and list every child in the household who attends school there.
5. Check whether your school uses the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). In CEP schools, every enrolled student gets breakfast and lunch at no cost and families don't fill out applications.
6. Watch for the approval letter, and keep paying or packing lunch until it arrives.

Good to know

• Applications are reviewed by local school or district officials, who decide on free or reduced-price benefits.
• Income limits are set each year by USDA; your district's application lists the current numbers.
• Meal applications are confidential. If you're worried about privacy, ask the district who sees your form.

For PTAs

Before Thanksgiving and winter break, add a short, no-judgment note to the newsletter: "Money tight this year? You can apply for free or reduced-price school meals any time. Ask the office." Pair it with your holiday food drive, and never ask families to tell the PTA whether they applied.

Sources

USDA Food and Nutrition: School Meals Model Application (applying any time) — https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/applying-free-and-reduced-price-school-meals

USDA Food and Nutrition: Community Eligibility Provision — https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/community-eligibility-provision

Related

• November school-parent checklist
• Holiday food drive playbook for a PTA or PTO
• December school-parent checklist

FAQ