USDA Announces New Income Guidelines for Free and Reduced-Price Eligibility
Households that Meet the Income Guidelines Should Complete the Application for Educational Benefits Provided by Their Schools
MINNEAPOLIS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture updated its income guidelines for free and reduced-price eligibility for Child Nutrition Programs.
Though Minnesota provides free meals for students who attend schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program, schools must still collect Applications for Educational Benefits to determine eligibility categories and receive the correct federal and state reimbursements.
Under the 2026-27 federal income guidelines, families may qualify for free benefits with monthly incomes up to $2,345 for a family of two, increasing by $615 for each additional family member. Families may qualify for reduced-price benefits with monthly incomes up to $3,337 for a family of two, increasing by $875 for each additional family member.
In addition to qualifying based on income, families may also qualify based on participation in assistance programs such as SNAP, MFIP, or FDPIR, or through student status such as foster care, Head Start, homelessness, or migrant status.
Families that meet the eligibility requirements should complete the application to help their children’s schools and to receive additional support such as summer grocery benefits, utility discounts, and test fee waivers.
The application can be submitted at any time during the school year and is available through a student’s school or district.
"Under Governor Walz’s Free School Meals for Kids program, Minnesota schools have provided over 300 million free meals to students across the state, saving families an estimated $1,000 per student each year,” said Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Commissioner Willie Jett. “When families complete the Application for Educational Benefits, it helps us continue providing nutritious food to children and helps schools and families access additional supports and resources.”
About the Minnesota Department of Education
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) oversees federal and state nutrition programs that provide healthy meals to students and children in care across the state, supporting health and educational outcomes for hundreds of thousands of Minnesota kids.
Please contact mde.fns@state.mn.us with any questions. Families may also call 651-582-8526 or 800-366-8922 (toll-free in Minnesota only).
Download the public notice. Federal regulations for these programs require the notice to be provided to local media so that, when possible, it may be printed as a public service to readers.
MDE requests the public notice be posted in the appropriate section of the printed electronic material.
Disclaimer: This request should not be deemed as an offer for or acceptance of any contract to publish, nor shall this request be deemed an authorization for payment.
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