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Resource | Final Rule Final Rule: Direct Certification of Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk in Schools

 This rule amends the regulations governing the determination of eligibility for free and reduced price school meals under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program or free milk in schools participating in the Special Milk Program.

11/20/2014
Resource Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines (2001-2002)

This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals or free milk for the period from July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002.

11/20/2014
Resource Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines (2002-2003)

This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals or free milk for the period from July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003.

11/20/2014
Resource Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines (2003-2004)

This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals or free milk for the period from July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004.

11/20/2014
Resource Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines (2005-2006)

This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals or free milk for the period from July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006.

11/20/2014
Resource Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines (2013-2014)

This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals and free milk for the period from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014.

11/20/2014
Resource | Policy Duration of Income Eligibility Determinations: Guidance and Q&As

This memorandum provides guidance and clarification regarding individual income eligibility determinations and duration in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program.

10/31/2014
Resource | Research and Data | Payment Accuracy and Program Integrity CACFP Assessment of Sponsor Tiering Determinations – 2013

This 2013 assessment of the family daycare homes (FDCHs) component of CACFP provides a national estimate of the share of the roughly 123,000 participating FDCHs that are approved for an incorrect level of per meal reimbursement, or reimbursement "tier" for their circumstances.

09/15/2014
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Regional Office Review of Applications for School Meals 2013

The study generates national estimates of administrative error in eligibility determinations and benefit issuance for free or reduced-price school meals.  For school year 2012-2013, local education agencies correctly certified 96.4% of students who applied for meal benefits.  LEAs assigned the correct free, reduced-price, or paid status to a slightly smaller 96.2% of students. 

08/27/2014
Resource | Policy Memos Eligibility Effective Date for Directly Certified Students

This memorandum addresses inquiries regarding flexibility in determining the effective date of eligibility for students who are directly certified to receive free meals or free milk in the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, and the Special Milk Program.

06/19/2014
Page updated: October 14, 2021