New Eligibility Guidelines For Free & Reduced School Meals Announced

New federal income eligibility guidelines will determine which Pennsylvania students qualify for free and reduced-price school meals and free milk for the upcoming school year.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently shared the updated benchmarks, which were established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The rules take effect July 1, 2026, and will remain in place through June 2027.

School districts, residential child care institutions, and other participating facilities use these federal metrics to determine student eligibility for several programs. It includes the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program for Children, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program.

“Providing children access to nutritious food during the school day is a critical component of health and well-being, and no families should face barriers to obtaining affordable meals,” state Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe said in a statement. “Offering free and reduced-price meals in schools helps students focus on learning instead of hunger, and we encourage all eligible families to apply for assistance.”

The application process varies depending on a household’s current participation in public assistance programs. Families currently receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) only need to provide their case number on the application.

Households enrolled in Medicaid or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may qualify based on their specific income levels and must fill out a Household Meal Benefit Application. Other families seeking information can apply or learn more through the state’s COMPASS website.

The below annual income eligibility guidelines are effective July 1, 2026:

Free Meals – 130%
Household Size:	Annual:	Once/Month:	Twice/Month:(24 pay periods/yr)	Every Two Weeks:(26 pay periods/yr)	Weekly:
One	20,748	1,729	865	798	399
Two	28,132	2,345	1,173	1,082	541
Three	35,516	2,960	1,480	1,366	683
Four	42,900	3,575	1,788	1,650	825
Five	50,284	4,191	2,096	1,934	967
Six	57,668	4,806	2,403	2,218	1,109
Seven	65,052	5,421	2,711	2,502	1,251
Eight	72,436	6,037	3,019	2,786	1,393
For each additional family member, add:	+$7,384	+$616	+$308	+$284	+$142

Reduced Price Meals – 185%
Household Size:	Annual:	Once/Month:	Twice/Month:(24 pay periods/yr)	Every TwoWeeks:(26 pay periods/yr)	Weekly:
One	29,526	2,461	1,231	1,136	568
Two	40,034	3,337	1,669	1,540	770
Three	50,542	4,212	2,106	1,944	972
Four	61,050	5,088	2,544	2,349	1,175
Five	71,558	5,964	2,982	2,753	1,377
Six	82,066	6,839	3,420	3,157	1,579
Seven	92,574	7,715	3,858	3,561	1,781
Eight	103,082	8,591	4,296	3,962	1,983
For each additional family member, add:	+$10,508	+$876	+$438	+$405	+$203

State and federal policies prohibit discrimination across these programs based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, which encompasses gender identity and sexual orientation, or retaliation for prior civil rights activities, state officials said.

Program materials can be requested in languages other than English. Individuals with disabilities requiring alternative communication formats, such as Braille, large print, audiotape, or American Sign Language, can contact their administering local or state agency. They may also reach out to the USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 or use the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

Discrimination complaints can be filed by completing USDA Form AD-3027 online, obtaining it from a USDA office by calling (866) 632-9992, or submitting a detailed letter directly to the agency. Completed complaint forms or letters must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights via mail at 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax at (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442, or through email at Program.Intake@usda.gov.