Back to School 2023-24

What you need for a healthy school meal:

Who is Eligible

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows schools located in low-income areas to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. Children attending a school within the CEP program do not need to fill out a school meal application. In other school areas, eligibility on the school meals program is based on income levels. Families that believe their income is under these limits should fill out an application for free or reduced-price meals through their school.

Additional Support for Families

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

Discounted, high-speed internet is available for families with kids eligible for free and reduced-price school meals!

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible households up to $30/month (or $75/month for households living on tribal lands) toward their internet bills, as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet.

All households with a child who was approved to receive free or reduced-price school meals within the last 12 months are eligible for ACP benefits, including children who attend schools participating in the CEP. Households are also independently eligible if:

• Their income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($55,500 for a family of four); or
• A member of the household participates in certain other federal benefit programs—including, among others, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Medicaid, and Federal Public Housing Assistance.

Families can check their eligibility, sign up, and find fully covered plans at GetInternet.gov (mobile-accessible and available in Spanish) or by calling 877-384-2575.

Healthy Eating Resources for Kids

Fun Activities

• MyPlate food group quizzes
• MyPlate coloring sheet (English | Spanish)

Additional Resources

• MyPlate Healthy Eating for Kids
• MyPlate Healthy Eating for Kids Tip Sheet (English | Spanish)
• Healthy Snacking with MyPlate Tip Sheet (English | Spanish)
• MyPlate Guide to School Breakfast (English | Spanish)
• MyPlate Guide to School Lunch (English | Spanish)

Today, USDA has taken action to withdraw its previously proposed rule, Revision of Categorical Eligibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (84 FR 35570).

The proposed rule, published on July 24, 2019, would have limited states’ ability to use participation in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to determine eligibility for SNAP. The rule put restrictions on the type and amount of TANF benefits a household must receive to be considered eligible for SNAP benefits and increased the reporting requirements for states using this administrative option. If finalized, the rule would have cost $2.3 billion in administrative expenses over 5 years, and more than 3.1 million individuals in 1.7 million households would have lost access to SNAP benefits. Further, nearly 1 million children would have lost automatic eligibility for free school meals, and 16,500 participants would have lost automatic eligibility for WIC.

USDA received nearly 158,000 comments on the proposed rule. Many expressed concerns that this policy would increase the administrative burden on states and potentially jeopardize food security for children, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly.

After reviewing the comments received, USDA has determined that the proposed rule to revise categorical eligibility should not be finalized. The flexibility afforded by broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) is critical to reducing administrative burden and simplifying the SNAP application process for both state agencies and households in need.

More information is available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/fr-061021.

Click on each PL number to see a summary of the laws. Information concerning each public law is also located at the Library of Congress.

1980

Amendments to the Food Stamp Act

PL 96-249, 94 Stat. 357-370 (May 26, 1980)

Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980

PL 96-420, 94 Stat. 1785 (Oct. 10, 1980)

• Excluded from income and resources payments made to the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, and the Houlton Band of Maliseet.

Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980

PL 96-422, 94 Stat. 1799 (Oct. 10, 1980)

• To provide general assistance to local educational agencies for the education of Cuban and Haitian refugee children, to provide special impact aid to such agencies for the education of Cuban and Haitian refugee children and Indochinese refugee children, and to provide assistance to state educational agencies for the education of Cuban and Haitian refugee adults

1981

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981

PL 97-35, 95 Stat. 357-933 (Aug. 13, 1981)

Food Stamp and Commodity Distribution Amendments of 1981

PL 97-98, 95 Stat. 1213-1358 (Dec. 22, 1981)

1982

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1982

PL 97-253, 96 Stat. 763-807 (Sept. 8, 1982)

PL 97-403

96 Stat. 2022 (Dec. 31, 1982)

• Excluded from income and resources payments to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewas of Arizona.

Job Training Partnership Act

PL 97-300, 96 Stat. 1322-1364 (Oct. 13, 1982)

• Provided that allowances, earnings and payments to individuals participating in programs under JTPA shall not be considered as income.

1983

PL 97-408

96 Stat. 2035 (Jan. 3, 1983)

• Excluded from income and resources payments to the Blackfeet, Gros Ventre, and Assiniboine tribes of Montana, and the Papago tribe of Arizona.

PL 97-458

96 Stat. 2512-2513 (Jan. 12, 1983)

• Amended PL 93-134, the Judgement Award Authorization Act, to require the exclusion of per capita payments under the Indian Judgment Fund Act (judgement awards) of $2,000 or less from income and resources. The exclusion applies to each payment made to each individual. Initial purchases made with exempt payments distributed between Jan. 1, 1982 and Jan. 12, 1983, are excluded from resources to the extent that excluded funds were used.

Per Capita Distribution Act

PL 98-64, 97 Stat. 365-366 (Aug. 2, 1983)

• Amended PL 93-134, the Judgement Award Authorization Act, to extend the exclusion in PL 97-458 to cover per capita payments from funds which are held in trust by the Secretary of the Interior (trust fund distributions). (This exclusion applies to per capita payments authorized under other public laws.)

FY 1984 Continuing Appropriations

PL 98-107, 97 Stat. 733-743 (Oct. 1, 1983)

• Included publicly-operated community health centers in the definition of "drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program" so that they could accept and redeem food stamps and so that their residents could qualify to participate in the FSP.
• Delayed implementation of mandatory monthly reporting/retrospective budgeting (MRRB) until Jan. 1, 1984.

Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Distribution and use of funds

PL 98-123, 97 Stat. 815 (Oct. 13, 1983)

• Excluded from income and resources funds distributed under this act to members of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians.

Assiniboine Tribes of Indians, Montana, Distribution and use of funds

PL 98-124, 97 Stat. 817 (Oct. 13, 1983)

• Excluded from income and resources per capita and interest payments made to members of the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Belknap Indian Community of Montana, and the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation of Montana under this Act.

Puerto Rico, nutrition assistance program. Food Stamp Program

PL 98-204, 97 Stat. 1385-1386 (Dec. 2, 1983)

• Extended Puerto Rico's authority to provide cash food assistance through Sept. 30, 1985; required USDA to study the Commonwealth's program and report to Congress.
• Allowed states to wage match from sources other than state unemployment or Social Security records under certain circumstances.

1984

Deficit Reduction Act of 1984

PL 98-369, 98 Stat. 494-1210 (July 18, 1984)

• Required the Secretary of the Treasury to disclose unearned income information to agencies administering the FSP.
• Required all states to establish income and eligibility verification systems (IEVS) based on Social Security numbers (SSNs).
• Required states to have a quarterly wage reporting system in place by Sept. 30, 1988.

Fiscal Year 1985 Continuing Appropriations

PL 98-473, 98 Stat. 1837-2199 (Oct. 12, 1984)

• Repealed a 1-percent reduction in the TFP.

Old Age Assistance Claims Settlement Act

PL 98-500, 98 Stat. 2317-2319 (Oct. 19, 1984)

• Provided that funds made to heirs of deceased Indians under this act shall not be considered as income or resources nor otherwise used to reduce or deny food stamp benefits except for per capita shares in excess of $2,000.

1985

Fiscal Year 1985 Supplemental Appropriations

PL 99-88, 99 Stat. 293-377 (Aug. 15, 1985)

• Continued the eligibility of residents of publicly-operated community mental health centers to participate in the FSP and of the centers to accept/redeem food stamps.

To extend temporarily certain provisions of law

PL 99-114, 99 Stat. 488 (Oct. 1, 1985)

• Extended Puerto Rico's Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) and elderly/SSI cash-out demonstration projects through Nov. 15, 1985.

Chippewa Indian Tribe of Lake Superior, distribution of judgment funds

PL 99-146, 99 Stat. 780 (Nov. 11, 1985)

• Excluded from income and resources funds distributed per capita or held in trust for members of the Chippewas of Lake Superior.

Dairy Price Support and Food Stamp Programs, temporary extension

PL 99-157, 99 Stat. 818-819 (Nov. 15, 1985)

• Extended Puerto Rico's NAP and the elderly/SSI cash-out projects through Dec. 13, 1985.

Dairy price support program and certain Food Stamp Program provisions extended

PL 99-182, 99 Stat. 1173 (Dec. 12, 1985)

• Extended Puerto Rico's NAP and the elderly/SSI cash-out projects through Dec. 31, 1985.

Food Security Act of 1985

PL 99-198, 99 Stat. 1354-1660 (Dec. 23, 1985)

• Click here for a full summary report.

1986

Food Security Improvements Act of 1986

PL 99-260, 100 Stat. 45-55 (March 20, 1986)

• Changed the following deadlines from PL 99-198:
  -- Submission of QC study reports to Congress: one year after the USDA/NAS contract is let.
  -- Publication of regulations restructuring the QC system and implementation of the new QC system: six months after the study reports are submitted.

White Earth Reservation Land Settlement Act of 1985

PL 99-264, 100 Stat. 61 (March 24, 1986)

• Excluded from income and resources moneys paid under this act to members of the White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians in Minnesota.

Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan Distribution of Judgment Funds Act

PL 99-346, 100 Stat. 674 (June 30, 1986)

• Excluded from income and resources payments to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.

Chippewas of the Mississippi, use and distribution of funds appropriated in satisfaction of judgments

PL 99-377, 100 Stat. 805 (Aug. 8, 1986)

• Excluded from income and resources funds distributed per capita to the Chippewas of the Mississippi or held in trust under this act.

Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1986

PL 99-425, 100 Stat. 964-978 (Sept. 30, 1986)

• Required inclusion of the full amount of direct or indirect LIHEAA benefits in the calculation of the shelter deduction.
• Prohibited program administrators from making any distinction between households that receive LIHEAA benefits as payments to energy vendors and those that receive cash LIHEAA benefits.
• Authorized $3 million annually for the Community Food and Nutrition Program. (Note: The Conference Report indicates that agencies receiving grants under this provision are to give high priority to outreach and public education programs about federal nutrition programs.)

Higher Education Amendments of 1986

PL 99-498, 100 Stat. 1268-1612 (Oct. 17, 1986)

• Provided an income and resources exclusion for portions of educational assistance provided under Title IV of the Higher Education Act and used for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses, as determined by the institution of higher education, in addition to tuition and mandatory fees which were already excluded.

Continuing Resolution

PL 99-500, 100 Stat. 1783-1783-373 (Oct. 18, 1986)

• Capped the dependent care deduction for households with elderly/disabled members at $160 a month, the same cap as other households already had.

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986

PL 99-509, 100 Stat, 1874-2078 (Oct. 21, 1986)

• Permitted state agencies to target their actions on useful information items received from the Income Eligibility Verification System (IEVS) rather than requiring action on every item.

Omnibus Drug Enforcement, Education, and Control Act

PL 99-570, 100, Stat. 3207-3207-192 (Oct. 27, 1986)

• Included in the definition of "food" meals served to the homeless by public or private nonprofit establishments that feed the homeless (i.e., soup kitchens) or shelters that contract with state agencies to feed the homeless at concessional prices.
• Made the use of food stamps to pay for meals in soup kitchens/shelters voluntary and prohibited requests for more than the average cost of the food contained in a meal served by the soup kitchens/shelters.
• Included the homeless in the definition of "household."
• Extended the FSP to residents of institutions for the homeless.
• Included soup kitchens/shelters in the definition of "retail food store."
• Prohibited soup kitchens/shelters from redeeming food stamps at banks/savings and loans.
• Required the Secretary to provide the House and Senate Agriculture Committees with an evaluation of the program established for the homeless by PL 99-570 by Sept. 30, 1988.
• Required the Secretary to limit the participation of soup kitchens/shelters in areas where the Secretary in consultation with OIG finds evidence that such participation damages program integrity unless the soup kitchen/shelter in question is the only one serving the area.
• Amended the SSA to require the Secretaries of DHHS and USDA to develop a procedure so that individuals can apply for the FSP and SSI on a single application prior to their release from a public institution.

Veterans' Benefits Improvement and Health-Care Authorization Act of 1986

PL 99-576, 100 Stat. 3248-3303 (Oct. 28, 1986)

• Provided that any amount by which the basic pay of an individual is reduced under this subsection shall revert to the Treasury and shall not, for purposes of any federal law, be considered to have been received by or to be within the control of such individual.

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

PL 99-603, 100 Stat. 3359-3445 (Nov. 6, 1986)

• Made certain illegal aliens temporary residents who could eventually become permanent residents/citizens and qualify for food stamps.
• Most nonagricultural workers would be ineligible for 5 years except those that are elderly, blind, and disabled as defined by SSI and certain Cuban/Haitian entrants as defined by Section 501(e)(1) or (2)(A) of PL 96-422. The Cubans and Haitians are eligible to apply for food stamps now. The elderly, blind, or disabled nonagricultural workers will remain ineligible to apply for food stamps until at least Dec. 1, 1988 (the earliest date they can attain permanent resident status), in spite of the PL 99-603 exception because of the conditions of Section 6(f) of the FSA.
• Special agricultural workers became eligible to apply for the FSP June 1, 1987.
• Additional special agricultural workers could be admitted to the U.S. during 1990-1993 as temporary residents to meet demonstrated labor shortages and could become permanent residents, and thus eligible to apply for the FSP, in 3 years.
• Required the use of INS' SAVE system for verification of alien status unless the Secretary waives the requirement because SAVE would be redundant or not cost-effective; provided 100% federal funding for the SAVE system.
• Provided a $1 billion Legalization Impact-Assistance Grant to assist state agencies but, since it must be reduced by the value of federal benefits and federal administrative costs for providing benefits to elderly/disabled aliens or Cuban/Haitian entrants, it could require a system for tracking these aliens' benefits.

1987

Higher Education Technical Amendments Act of 1987

PL 100-50, 101 Stat. 335-363 (June 3, 1987)

• The portion of any student financial assistance received under this act, or under BIA student assistance programs, that is made available for attendance costs not to be considered as income or resources in determining eligibility for assistance under any federally-funded program funded. Attendance costs defined as: 1) tuition and fees; and 2) an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses for a student attending the institution on at least a half-time basis, as determined by the institution.

Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act

PL 100-77, 101 Stat. 482-538 (July 22, 1987)

• Provided a definition of "homeless individual."
• Provided separate household status for parents of minor children and those children even though they live with the parents' parents or siblings if the parents of minor children and their children purchase and prepare food separately from the others.
• Set the annual adjustment to the income eligibility guidelines for October 1 rather than July 1, beginning with 1988.
• Included the CPI's homeownership component of shelter costs in the annual standard deduction update.
• Denied the earned income deduction for earnings that a household willfully or fraudulently fails to report.
• Increased the cap on the excess shelter deduction to $164 a month for households certified on or after Oct. 1, 1987.
• Excluded as income third-party housing assistance payments made on behalf of households in temporary housing that lacks food preparation facilities or refrigerated storage.
• Provided 50% federal funding for optional food stamp informational activities directed at homeless individuals.
• Expanded the categories of households eligible for expedited service to eligible homeless individuals and households whose combined gross income and liquid resources are less than their rent/mortgage and utilities.
• Required an annual report to Congress on the nature and extent of problems related to the homeless, their needs, federal activities and accomplishments, assessment of federal assistance needed to resolve problems, and recommendations for legislative/ administrative actions.

Older Americans Act Amendments of 1987

PL 100-175, 101 Stat. 926-983 (Nov. 29, 1987)

• Excluded as income funds received by individuals under the Community Service Employment Program.

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987

PL 100-203, 101 Stat. 1330-1330-472 (Dec. 22, 1987)

• Authorized Washington State, with the Department's approval, to conduct a demonstration project cashing-out and standardizing the FSP benefits of its AFDC households.

1988

Charitable Assistance and Food Bank Act of 1987

PL 100-232, 101 Stat. 1566 (Jan. 5, 1988)

• Excluded as income charitable contributions from private nonprofit organizations of $300 a quarter.

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Amendments of 1987

PL 100-241, 101 Stat. 1788 (Feb. 3, 1988)

• Excluded as income and resources, for the purpose of determining eligibility for the FSP, cash, stock, partnership interest, land, or interest in a settlement trust if received from a Native Corporation.

Housing and Community Development Act of 1987

PL 100-242, 101 Stat. 1815-1964 (Feb. 5, 1988)

• Excluded most increases in the earned income of a family residing in certain housing while participating in HUD demonstration projects authorized by section 126. Demonstration projects authorized for Charlotte, NC and 10 additional locations.

Wartime Relocation of Citizens

PL 100-383, 102 Stat. 903-910 (Aug. 10, 1988)

• Excluded for FSP purposes as both income and resources the funds provided under this law to certain U.S. citizens of Japanese ancestry, resident Japanese aliens, and Aleuts.

Disaster Assistance Act of 1988

PL 100-387, 102 Stat. 924-960 (Aug. 11, 1988)

• Excluded as income emergency assistance for migrants or seasonal farm workers provided while they are in the job stream and in the form of vendor payments.
• Exempted migrants and seasonal farm workers from proration of benefits for breaks in certification of 30 days or less.

Hunger Prevention Act of 1988

PL 100-435, 102 Stat. 1645-1677 (Sept. 19, 1988)

Technical Correction in the Family Independence Demonstration Project (FIP)

PL 100-481, 102 Stat. 2336 (Oct. 11, 1988)

• Assured non FIP participants in FIP households a food stamp allotment that is no less than they would have received if there were no FIP demonstration.

Family Support Act

PL 100-485, 102 Stat. 2343-2428 (Oct. 13, 1988)

• Excluded from income the value of any child care payments made under Title IV-A of the SSA, including transitional child care payments. (These are entitlement payments.

Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988

PL 100-503, 102 Stat. 2507-2514 (Oct. 18, 1988)

• Required procedures to safeguard the rights of households that might suffer an adverse effect as the result of a computer match. Additional due process protections include requiring verification of the information from the match prior to reducing/stopping benefits and providing affected households 30 days to dispute the results of a match.

Technical Correction to the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988

PL 100-619, 102 Stat. 3198 (Nov. 5, 1988)

• Changed the effective date for Section 344 of the Hunger Prevention Act (PL 100-435) (authority for the Secretary to levy a civil money penalty in lieu of permanent disqualification under certain conditions) to Oct. 1, 1988 rather than July 1, 1989.

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act

PL 100-707, 102 Stat. 4689-4715 (Nov. 21, 1988)

• Excluded as income and resources federal major disaster and emergency assistance provided to individuals and families under that Act and comparable disaster assistance provided by states, local governments, and disaster assistance organizations.

1989

Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Act of 1989

PL 101-41, 103 Stat. 83-90 (June 21, 1989)

• Provided that nothing in the act shall affect the eligibility of the tribe or any of its members for any federal program. Provided that none of the funds, assets, or income from the trust fund established in the act shall at any time be used as a basis for denying or reducing funds to the tribe or its members under any federal, state, or local program. This tribe is located in the State of Washington.

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989

PL 101-239, 103 Stat. 2106-2490 (Dec. 19, 1989)

• Also excluded payments made from the Agent Orange settlement fund or any other fund established pursuant to the settlement in the In re Agent Orange product liability litigation, M.D.L. No. 381 (E.D.N.Y.) from income and resources in determining eligibility for the amount of benefits under the FSP.

Agent Orange Compensation Exclusion Act

PL 101-201, 103 Stat. 1795 (Dec. 6, 1989)

• Excluded as income and resources payments made from the Agent Orange Settlement Fund.

Authorizing Food Stamp Portion of the Minnesota Family Investment Plan

PL 101-202, 103 Stat. 1796 (Dec. 6, 1989)

• Authorized the food stamp portion of the Minnesota Family Investment Plan.

PL 101-220

103 Stat. 1876-1880 (Dec. 12, 1989)

• Extended the temporary income exclusion for certain housing assistance for the homeless through Sept. 30, 1990.

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989

PL 101-239, 103 Stat. 2106-2490 (Dec. 19, 1989)

• Also excluded payments made from the Agent Orange settlement fund or any other fund established pursuant to the settlement in the In re: Agent Orange product liability litigation, MDL No. 381 (EDNY) from income and resources in determining eligibility for the amount of benefits under the FSP.

If you received a letter from the Food and Nutrition Service telling you that store(s) you own are due for reauthorization, Sign In (click button below) to access your reauthorization application. You will need the unique Reauthorization Customer Number and password provided in the letter.

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