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USDA announces free, reduced meal income guidelines for 2024-2025 school year

| August 5, 2024 1:05 AM

Income guidelines for free and reduced-price meals for the 2024-2025 school year are now available to Idaho families for review.

Free and reduced-price meals are available for eligible students and qualifying schools may offer the Special Milk Program. Eligibility is determined by household size and income and categorically eligible children qualify for free meal benefits. Qualifying students receive meals or milk without charge or may pay a reduced price of no more than $.40 for lunch and $.30 for breakfast.

According to information for March from the Idaho Department of Education, average daily participation in the free and reduced-price lunch programs in the Coeur d'Alene School District was 3,284 students; average daily participation in the Lakeland Joint School District was 1,278 students; Post Falls School District, 2,718 students; and 107 students in the Kootenai School District.

Children from households with incomes at or below the following levels are eligible for free or reduced-price meals or the Special Milk Program if meals are not offered.

Reduced-price meals:

Household of 1: • Annual: $27,861 • Monthly: $2,322 • Twice per month: $1,161 • Every two weeks: $1,072 • Weekly: $536

Household of 2: • Annual: $37,814 • Monthly: $3,152 • Twice per month: $1,576 • Every two weeks: $1,455 • Weekly: $728

Household of 3: • Annual: $47,767 • Monthly: $3,981 • Twice per month: $1,991 • Every two weeks: $1,838 • Weekly: $919

Household of 4: • Annual: $57,720 • Monthly: $4,810 • Twice per month: $2,405 • Every two weeks: $2,220 • Weekly: $1,110

Household of 5: • Annual: $67,673 • Monthly: $5,640 • Twice per month: $2,820 • Every two weeks: $2,603 • Weekly $1,302 

Household of 6: • Annual: $77,626 •Monthly: $6,469 • Twice per month: $3,235 • Every two weeks: $2,986 • Weekly $1,493 

Household of 7: • Annual: $87,579 • Monthly: $7,299 • Twice per month: $3,650 • Every two weeks: $3,369 • Weekly: $1,685

Household of 8: • Annual: $97,532 • Monthly: $8,128 • Twice per month: $4,064 • Every two weeks: $3,752 • Weekly: $1,876

*For each additional family member, add: • Annual: $9,953 • Monthly: $830 • Twice per month: $415 • Every two weeks: $383 • Weekly: $192 

Free meals:

Household of 1: • Annual: $19,578 • Monthly: $1,632 • Twice per month: $816 • Every two weeks: $753 • Weekly: $377 

Household of 2: • Annual: $26,572 • Monthly: $2,215 • Twice per month: $1,108 • Every two weeks: $1,022 • Weekly: $511

Household of 3: • Annual: $33,566 • Monthly: $2,798 • Twice per month: $1,399 • Every two weeks: $1,291 • Weekly: $646 

Household of 4: • Annual: $40,560 • Monthly: $3,380 • Twice per month: $1,690 • Every two weeks: $1,560 • Weekly: $780

Household of 5: • Annual: $47,554 • Monthly: $3,963 • Twice per month: $1,982 • Every two weeks: $1,829 • Weekly: $915 

Household of 6: • Annual: $54,548 • Monthly: $4,546 • Twice per month: $2,273 • Every two weeks: $2,098 • Weekly: $1,049 

Household of 7: • Annual: $61,542 • Monthly: $5,129 • Twice per month: $2,565 • Every two weeks: $2,367 • Weekly: $1,184 

Household of 8: • Annual: $68,536 • Monthly: $5,712 • Twice per month: $2,856 • Every two weeks: $2,636 • Weekly: $1,318

*For each additional family member, add: • Annual: $6,994 • Monthly: $5,712 • Twice per month: $2,856 • Every two weeks: $2,636 • Weekly: $1,318

Children in households receiving food stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance to Families in Idaho, Medicaid or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations are eligible for free meals and may submit applications for these children with abbreviated information. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children participants may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

This month, households receiving SNAP or TAFI benefits will be directly certified to receive free meal or milk benefits by a letter from their school advising them of their eligibility for free meal or milk benefits. No other application or verification of eligibility is required for students directly certified. When identified, the household will be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals if the individual child is receiving educational support through migrant, homeless or runaway education, Head Start or is in court-ordered foster care.

Households notified of their children’s eligibility must contact the school if the household chooses to decline the free meal benefits. The household will be notified by the district if the school is operating a Special Provision Option, such as Provision 2 or the Community Eligibility Provision, which provides free breakfasts and/or lunches to all students.

Households not receiving notification of eligibility for free or reduced-priced meals may apply for benefits by completing a confidential application for free or reduced-price meals or free milk. An official at the school will review the confidential application and determine eligibility.

Visit sde.idaho.gov for details.