News Release

September 21, 2023

INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES AND MEAL APPLICATION AVAILABILITY ANNOUNCED FOR SCHOOL LUNCH, OTHER NUTRITION PROGRAMS

The Nebraska Department of Education’s Nutrition Services office has announced the Income Eligibility Guidelines for free and reduced price meals for persons unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch, Breakfast, Special Milk and Child and Adult Care Food Programs.

Participating schools, child care and adult care centers have a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

Application forms will be given to all households with a letter to parents, guardians or adult participants.

To apply for free or reduced price meals, households should fill out the application and return it to the school or agency. Additional copies are available from the school principals or agency administrator. The information provided on the application will be used to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the year by school or other program officials.

For the school or agency officials to determine eligibility, the household must provide the following information on the application: names of all household members; the last four digits of the social security number, if available, for an adult household; total monthly household income by source; and the signature of an adult household member certifying that the information provided is correct. Children who are members of households receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are automatically eligible to receive free meals. Participants at adult care centers receiving Food Stamps, FDPIR, SSI or Medicaid are automatically eligible to receive free meals.

Applications may be submitted at any time during the year.

The same meals will be made available to all enrolled participants regardless of race, color, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), age, national origin or disability, and there is no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Non-pricing programs provide meals at no separate charge. Pricing programs provide free and reduced price meals to those meeting the approved eligibility criteria. Persons who believe they have been treated unfairly in receiving food services for any of these reasons should write immediately to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250.

The following household size and income criteria will be used for determining eligibility. Participants from families whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or reduced price meals.

NOTE TO MEDIA:

A list of the participating schools and agencies, by county, is available on the Nutrition Services web site.

A graphic file of the Income Guidelines is available at SY2023-24 Income Guidelines.

 

NUTRITION SERVICES INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

JULY 1, 2023 – JUNE 30, 2024

Household Size	Free Meal			Reduced Price Meal
	Annual	Monthly	Weekly	Annual	Monthly	Weekly
1	18,954	1,580	365	26,973	2,248	519
2	25,636	2,137	493	36,482	3,041	703
3	32,318	2,694	622	45,991	3,833	885
4	39,000	3,350	750	55,500	4,625	1,068
5	45,682	3,807	879	65,009	5,418	1,251
6	52,364	4,364	1,007	65,518	6,210	1,434
7	59,046	4,921	1,136	84,027	7,003	1,616
8	65,728	5,478	1,264	93,536	7,795	1,799
For each additional family member add:	6,682	557	129	9,509	793	1683

 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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