New Guidelines Announced For Free and
Reduced- Price School Meals
USDA Announces Adjustments to Income Eligibility Guidelines
BALTIMORE, MD (July 3, 2018) – The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has announced revised Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs) for free and reduced-price school meals. The guidelines are set by the federal government and adopted by MSDE. These guidelines are used to determine eligibility for free or reduced-price meals in the child nutrition programs for the period of July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) annual adjustments to the IEGs are required by Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The guidelines are intended to directly benefit those children most in need and are revised annually to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index.
Household size and income is the most common way to determine eligibility. For example, a child from a family of four is eligible for free school meals if the household’s current annual income is below $32,630. If the family’s annual income is between $32,630 and $46,435, the child is eligible for reduced-price meals.
United States citizenship is not required in order to obtain eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Meal Benefit Applications will be sent home from each child’s school at the beginning of the school year. Parents and guardians should fill out the application completely and send it back to the school. Please note schools cannot approve incomplete applications. Schools will then inform households whether children qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Parents and guardians may speak with school officials concerning disagreement with the school’s decision or appeal the decision and request a fair hearing with the school district’s administrators.
Children enrolled in a Head Start program or children who are certified as homeless, migrant, runaway, foster, or children living in households that receive Food Supplement Program (FSP) or Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) benefits are eligible for free meals and do not need to fill out an application. Some FSP and TCA households will receive a letter from their school informing them that their children are eligible for free meals. FSP and TCA households that do not receive a letter by the beginning of the school year should fill out an application. Parents and guardians from households that do not qualify for any of the programs mentioned above should also complete an application.
Parents and guardians may reapply at any time during the school year and are encouraged to do so if the household size increases, they become unemployed, income decreases, or the household qualifies for FSP or TCA.
School Meals include the following programs: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, After-School Care Snack component, and Special Milk Program. The School Meals programs are administered in Maryland by MSDE and the USDA, and must meet nutrition requirements set by the USDA. Please visit the MSDE web site atwww.eatsmartmaryland.org for additional information regarding the Child Nutrition Programs operating in Maryland.
Individuals who want more information concerning schools or facilities that participate in one of the Child Nutrition Programs should contact a Program Specialist at 410-767-0219.
Income Eligibility Guidelines
(Effective July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019)
Household Size Free Meals Reduced-Price Meals
Year Month Week Year Month Week
1 $15,782 $1,316 $304 $22,459 $1,872 $432
2 21,398 1,784 412 30,451 2,538 586
3 27,014 2,252 520 38,443 3,204 740
4 32,630 2,720 628 46,435 3,870 893
5 38,246 3,188 736 54,427 4,536 1,047
6 43,862 3,656 844 62,419 5,202 1,201
7 49,478 4,124 952 70,411 5,868 1,355
8 55,094 4,592 1,060 78,403 6,534 1,508
For each additional family member add…
$5,616 $468 $108 $7,992 $666 $154
MSDE and USDA are equal opportunity providers.
4 comments:
This is another example of "Slave Reparations". They want more but they are bleeding us working folks dry!
11:50 I worked briefly for one of the local slumlords. I can assure you sucking at the government teet doesn't come in one color.
this is total bs! I am tired, tired of being forced to pay for those who choose not to become educated or work for a better life! Why do I have to pay more so slackers and under achievers can get a free ride! total bs!
Imagine how many illegals w/ little to no income will receive the benefit which pushes the middle class further into the ineligible column. When if they were excluded the 2 parent struggling households could benefit and receive the extra help.
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