Free and Reduced Meals Guidelines Released
(Michigan Dept. of Ed Press Release, July 27, 2013)
The Michigan Department of Education has announced the household income guidelines established by the United States Department of Agriculture for free and reduced price meals and free milk through the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Special Milk, and Child and Adult Care Food Programs. The income guidelines are effective from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014.
Families should contact their school, school district, child care center, or family day care home sponsor to find out whether it participates in these programs.
Schools, child care centers, adult day care centers, and family day care home sponsors will provide a form for applying for free or reduced price meals. Only one application is required per household. Most participating centers and all participating family child care homes provide meals to all enrolled participants without any separate charge.
Adults, children, or foster children who are recipients of various programs such as Michigan’s Family Independence Program, Food Assistance Program, Medicaid, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, or who are enrolled in Head Start, an At-Risk afterschool center, or an emergency shelter automatically qualify for free meals. Households with incomes less than or equal to the following guidelines qualify for free or reduced price meals or free milk.
Scale for Free Meals or Free Milk | Scale for Reduced Price Meals | ||||
Total Family Size | Annual | Monthly | Annual | Monthly | |
1 |
$14,937 | $1,245 | $21,257 | $1,772 | |
2 |
$20,163 | $1,681 | $28,694 | $2,392 | |
3 |
$25,389 | $2,116 | $36,131 | $3,011 | |
4 |
$30,615 | $2,552 | $43,568 | $3,631 | |
5 |
$35,841 | $2,987 | $51,005 | $4,251 | |
6 |
$41,067 | $3,423 | $58,442 | $4,871 | |
7 |
$46,293 | $3,858 | $65,879 | $5,490 | |
8 |
$51,519 | $4,294 | $73,316 | $6,110 | |
For each additional family member add: | |||||
$5,226 | $436 | $7,437 | $620 |
An application to a school, child care center, adult day care center, or family day care home sponsor can be approved if it contains complete documentation of household income or documentation of current participation in Michigan’s Family Independence Program, Food Assistance Program, Medicaid, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. Information supplied on an application for free or reduced price meals may be verified at any time. An appeal procedure is available for households where applications are denied.
Participating schools, child care centers, adult day care centers, and family day care home sponsors accept applications for free or reduced price meals at any time during the year. A household may qualify for free or reduced price meals due to a temporary loss of income, such as a period of unemployment.
If a doctor has determined that a child or adult has a disability, and the disability would prevent the participant from eating the regular school or center meal, the school or center will make any substitution prescribed by a doctor at no charge. The doctor’s statement, including prescribed diet and/or substitution, must be submitted to the food service department of the school or child or adult care facility.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.