The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released federal income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price school meals and free milk for July 2026 through June 2027.
Schools, and other institutions and facilities, 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.
“Providing children access to nutritious food during the school day is a critical component of health and well-being, and no families should face barriers to obtaining affordable meals,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. “Offering free and reduced-price meals in schools helps students focus on learning instead of hunger, and we encourage all eligible families to apply for assistance.”
To apply, households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) 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 (WIC) or Medicaid may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals based on income and should complete a Household Meal Benefit Application. Other households can find more information on the Commonwealth’s COMPASS website.
The following annual income eligibility guidelines are effective July 1, 2026, until further notice:
| Free Meals – 130% | |||||
|
Household Size:
|
Annual: |
Once/Month: | Twice/Month: (24 pay periods/yr) | Every Two Weeks: (26 pay periods/yr) |
Weekly: |
| One | 20,748 | 1,729 | 865 | 798 | 399 |
| Two | 28,132 | 2,345 | 1,173 | 1,082 | 541 |
| Three | 35,516 | 2,960 | 1,480 | 1,366 | 683 |
| Four | 42,900 | 3,575 | 1,788 | 1,650 | 825 |
| Five | 50,284 | 4,191 | 2,096 | 1,934 | 967 |
| Six | 57,668 | 4,806 | 2,403 | 2,218 | 1,109 |
| Seven | 65,052 | 5,421 | 2,711 | 2,502 | 1,251 |
| Eight | 72,436 | 6,037 | 3,019 | 2,786 | 1,393 |
| For each additional family member, add: | +$7,384 | +$616 | +$308 | +$284 | +$142 |
| Reduced Price Meals – 185% | |||||
|
Household Size:
|
Annual: |
Once/Month: | Twice/Month: (24 pay periods/yr) | Every Two Weeks: (26 pay periods/yr) |
Weekly: |
| One | 29,526 | 2,461 | 1,231 | 1,136 | 568 |
| Two | 40,034 | 3,337 | 1,669 | 1,540 | 770 |
| Three | 50,542 | 4,212 | 2,106 | 1,944 | 972 |
| Four | 61,050 | 5,088 | 2,544 | 2,349 | 1,175 |
| Five | 71,558 | 5,964 | 2,982 | 2,753 | 1,377 |
| Six | 82,066 | 6,839 | 3,420 | 3,157 | 1,579 |
| Seven | 92,574 | 7,715 | 3,858 | 3,561 | 1,781 |
| Eight | 103,082 | 8,591 | 4,296 | 3,962 | 1,983 |
| For each additional family member, add: | +$10,508 | +$876 | +$438 | +$405 | +$203 |
