The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced that the United States Department of Agriculture released federal income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price school meals and free milk for July 2022-June 2023.
Schools and other institutions use the guidelines to determine eligibility for 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.
“Offering free and reduced meals and free milk is a major way schools provide for their students,” said Vonda Ramp, state director of child nutrition programs. “Keeping students fed means they can focus on learning in the classroom instead of having to think about where their next meal might come from.”
To apply, households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families need only include the SNAP or TANF case number on their application. Households enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals and should complete a Household Meal Benefit Application. Other households can find more information at compass.state.pa.us/compass.web/Public/CMPHome.
The following annual income eligibility guidelines are effective until further notice:
| Family Size | Free Meals or Milk
(130% of Poverty Guidelines) |
Reduced Price Meals
(185% of Poverty Guidelines) |
Not Eligible for Free or Reduced Price Meals or Milk |
| One | $0 to $17,667 | $17,668 to $25,142 | $25,143 and up |
| Two | $0 to $23,803 | $23,804 to $33,874 | $33,875 and up |
| Three | $0 to $29,939 | $29,940 to $42,606 | $42,607 and up |
| Four | $0 to $36,075 | $36,076 to $51,338 | $51,339 and up |
| Five | $0 to $42,211 | $42,212 to $ 60,070 | $60,071 and up |
| Six | $0 to $48,347 | $48,348 to $68,802 | $68,803 and up |
| Seven | $0 to $54,483 | $54,484 to $77,534 | $77,535 and up |
| Eight | $0 to $60,619 | $60,620 to $86,266 | $86,267 and up |
