Determine Program Eligibility

Sponsors determine student meal eligibility through household income applications or direct certification. Federal reimbursement is provided for each meal served based on USDA rates for free, reduced-price, or paid meals.

Sponsors in the Healthy School Meals for All Program provide no-cost meals to all students, regardless of eligibility. Even so, it’s important for households to complete income forms so sponsors can maximize federal reimbursement and families can access other benefits, such as reduced school fees.

For the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, all disclosure requirements apply when using eligibility information for non-meal purposes. Public school districts must also report free and
reduced-price eligibility totals for the annual At-Risk/Free Lunch October Count.

• Provide consistent and clear communication on how families can apply
• Promote online application as a component in online school registration
• Include application and return instructions in Friday folders
• Mail paper applications with pre-paid return envelopes or designate a drop-off point
• Hold office hours for application assistance
• Directly certify students and extend eligibility to household members to the greatest extent possible
• Use marketing materials to promote applying

A student’s free or reduced-price meal eligibility from the previous school year carries over for up to the first 30 operating days of the new school year, or until a new eligibility determination is made. After the carryover period ends, students will be charged the paid meal rate unless they are directly certified or a new application has been approved.

Please use the following templates:

Provide households with the letter to households, the household income application and corresponding instructions between July 1 and the first day of school. Provide materials again throughout the school year.

• Letter to Households: English, Spanish
• 2025-26 Combo Form: English, Spanish
• 2025-26 Combo Form Word Version: English, Spanish
• Combo Form Instructions: English, Spanish

Customize the public release and send it to your school community using various communication channels.

• Public Release: English, Spanish

Provide households with the notice of eligibility letter.

• Notice of Eligibility Letter: English, Spanish
• Notice of Change in Benefits Letter: English, Spanish

Please use the following templates:

Provide households with the letter to households, the household income application and corresponding instructions between July 1 and the first day of school. Provide materials again throughout the school year.

• Letter to Households: English, Spanish
• 2025-26 Combo Form: English, Spanish
• 2025-26 Combo Form Word Version: English, Spanish
• Combo Form Instructions: English, Spanish

OR

• FEDS Form: English, Spanish
• FEDS Form Instructions: English, Spanish

Customize the public release and send it to your school community using various communication channels.

• CEP Public Release: English, Spanish

Provide households with the notice of eligibility letter.

• Notice of Eligibility Letter: English, Spanish

Please use the following templates:

Provide households with the letter to households, the household income application and corresponding instructions between July 1 and the first day of school. Provide materials again throughout the school year.

• Letter to Households: English, Spanish
• 2025-26 Household Income Application: English, Spanish
• 2025-26 Household Income Application Word Version: English, Spanish
• Household Income Application Instructions: English, Spanish

Customize the public release and send it to stakeholders and your school community using various communication channels..

• Public Release: English, Spanish

Once student eligibility is determined, provide households with the notice of eligibility letter. If eligibility status changes during the year, provide households with the notice of change in benefits letter.

• Notice of Eligibility Letter: English, Spanish
• Notice of Change in Benefits Letter: English, Spanish