Skip to main content

National Income Guidelines for Free and Reduced Priced Meals for Schools and the Child and Adult Care Food Program are Announced

The Michigan Department of Education has announced the release of the household income guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for free and reduced-price meals and free milk through the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Special Milk, and Child and Adult Care Food programs. The income guidelines are effective now through June 30, 2023.

Families should contact their school, school district, childcare center, or family day care home sponsor to find out whether it participates in these programs.

Schools, childcare centers, adult day care centers, and family day care home sponsors will provide a form for applying for free or reduced-price meals. Only one application is required per household.

Adults, children, or foster children who are recipients of various programs such as Michigan’s family independence program, food assistance program, or food distribution program on tribal lands, or who are enrolled in Head Start, an at-risk afterschool center, or an emergency shelter automatically qualify for free meals. Households with incomes less than or equal to the following guidelines qualify for free or reduced-price meals or free milk.

Scale for Free Meals       Scale for Reduced or Free Milk       Price Meals

Total Family Size

Annual

Monthly

Annual

Monthly

1

$17,667

$1,473

$25,142

$2,096

2

$23,803

$1,984

$33,874

$2,823

3

$29,939

$2,495

$42,606

$3,551

4

$36,075

$3,007

$51,338

$4,279

5

$42,211

$3,518

$60,070

$5,006

6

$48,347

$4,029

$68,802

$5,734

7

$54,483

$4,541

$77,534

$6,462

8

$60,619

$5,052

$86,266

$7,189

For each additional family member add:

$6,136           $512            $8,732                      $728

An application to a school, childcare center, adult day care center, or family day care home sponsor can be approved if it contains complete documentation of household income, or documentation of current participation in Michigan’s family independence program, food assistance program, or food distribution program on tribal lands. Information supplied on an application for free or reduced-price meals may be verified at any time. An appeal procedure is available for households where applications are denied.

Participating schools, childcare centers, adult day care centers, and family day care home sponsors accept applications for free or reduced-price meals at any time during the year. A household may qualify for free or reduced-price meals due to a temporary loss of income, such as a period of unemployment.

If a doctor has determined that a child or adult has a disability, and the disability would prevent the participant from eating the regular school or center meal, the school or center will make reasonable substitutions to meal and/or snacks for participants who are considered to have a disability or medical need that restricts their diet. This is done on a case-by-case basis. The doctor’s statement, including prescribed diet and/or substitution, must be submitted to the food service department of the school, childcare facility, or adult care facility.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or should contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Author: