Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines
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This law provides annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines for free and reduced-price meals, free milk, and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits for the upcoming period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The guidelines help determine the eligibility for these benefits to ensure that assistance goes to children in need, as required by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. Adjustments are based on changes in the Consumer Price Index and include criteria based on federal poverty guidelines.
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Key Changes
- Update of Income Eligibility Guidelines for July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
- Guidelines revised based on changes in Consumer Price Index.
- Criteria to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price meals established.
Obligations
What this law requires
Schools, institutions, and facilities participating in National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program must use the updated Income Eligibility Guidelines effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price meals, free milk, and Summer EBT benefits.
States and Indian Tribal Organizations administering the Summer EBT for Children Program must apply the updated Income Eligibility Guidelines effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 to determine program benefit eligibility.
Income determinations must be based on gross income before deductions (taxes, insurance premiums, charitable contributions) and must include the 14 specified income sources listed in the guidelines, including wages, self-employment income, Social Security, public assistance, unemployment compensation, and other cash income from savings or investments.
Income calculations must be performed using the specified formulas: annual income divided by 12 for monthly, by 24 for twice-monthly, by 26 for biweekly, and by 52 for weekly income, with all results rounded upward to the next whole dollar.
Free meal and milk eligibility thresholds must be set at 130% of the Federal income poverty guidelines for the applicable household size; reduced-price meal eligibility must be set at 185% of the Federal income poverty guidelines, effective July 1, 2026.