The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEG) are required by Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The guidelines are intended to directly benefit those children most in need. They are revised annually to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index. The free and reduced guidelines were obtained by multiplying the 2009 federal income poverty guidelines by 130 percent and 185 percent, respectively, and by rounding the result upward to the next whole dollar.

Household size and income is the most common way to determine eligibility. For example, a child from a family of four is eligible for free school meals if the household’s current income is below $28,665. If the family’s income is between $28,665 and $40,793, the child is eligible for reduced-price meals.

Meal Benefit Applications will be sent home from school at the beginning of the school year. U.S. citizenship is not required to be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Parents/Guardians should fill out the application completely and send it back to the school. Schools cannot approve incomplete applications.

The school will let parents/guardians know whether their children qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Households may speak with school officials if they disagree with the school’s decision or they may appeal the decision and request a fair hearing.

Children enrolled in a Head Start program, children certified as homeless or migrant, and most children living in households that receive benefits from the Food Supplement Program (FSP–formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) or Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) are eligible for free meals and do not need to fill out an application. Some FSP and TCA households will receive a letter from the school telling them that their children are eligible for free meals. FSP and TCA households that do not receive a letter by the beginning of the school year should fill out an application.

Other children that may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals include most foster children, runaways, and children in households participating in WIC. Parents/Guardians of these children should complete an application.

Parents/guardians may reapply at any time during the school year and are encouraged to do so if their household size goes up, they lose their job, their income goes down, or their household qualifies for FSP or TCA.

School Meals include the School Breakfast Program, the National School Lunch Program with the After-School Care Snack component, and the Special Milk Program. Meals served must meet nutrition requirements set by the USDA. The School Meals programs are administered in Maryland by MSDE and by the USDA on a federal level. Visit the MSDE web site at www.eatsmartmaryland.org for information about some of the Child Nutrition Programs operating in Maryland.

Individuals who want more information concerning schools or facilities that participate in one of the Child Nutrition Programs should call 410-767-0214. These guidelines are effective July 1, 2009.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.