USDA announces free, reduced meal income guidelines for 2025-2026 school year
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 1 year, 1 month AGO
Income guidelines for free and reduced-price meals for the 2025-26 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 cents for lunch and 30 cents for breakfast.
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: 28,953 • Monthly: 2,413 • Twice per month: 1,207 • Every two weeks: 1,114 • Weekly: 557
Household of 2: • Annual: 39,128 • Monthly: 3,261 • Twice per month: 1,631 • Every two weeks: 1,505 • Weekly:753
Household of 3: • Annual: 49,303 • Monthly: 4,109 • Twice per month: 2,055 • Every two weeks: 1,897 • Weekly: 949
Household of 4: • Annual: 59,478 • Monthly: 4,957 • Twice per month: 2,479 • Every two weeks: 2,288 • Weekly: 1,144
Household of 5: • Annual: 69,653 • Monthly: 5,805 • Twice per month: 2,903 • Every two weeks: 2,679 • Weekly: 1,340
Household of 6: • Annual: 79,828 • Monthly: 6,653 • Twice per month: 3,327 • Every two weeks: 3,071 • Weekly: 1,536
Household of 7: • Annual: 90,003 • Monthly: 7,501 • Twice per month: 3,751 • Every two weeks: 3,462 • Weekly: 1,731
Household of 8: • Annual: 100,178 • Monthly: 8,349 • Twice per month: 4,175 • Every two weeks: 3,853 • Weekly: 1,927
*For each additional family member, add: • Annual: 10,175 • Monthly: 848 • Twice per month: 424 • Every two weeks: 392 • Weekly: 196
Free meals:
Household of 1: • Annual: 20,345 • Monthly: 1,696 • Twice per month: 848 • Every two weeks: 783 • Weekly: 392
Household of 2: • Annual: 27,495 • Monthly: 2,292 • Twice per month: 1,146 • Every two weeks: 1,058 • Weekly: 529
Household of 3: • Annual: 27,495 • Monthly: 2,292 • Twice per month: 1,146 • Every two weeks: 1,058 • Weekly: 529
Household of 4: • Annual: 41,795 • Monthly: 3,483 • Twice per month: 1,742 • Every two weeks: 1,608 • Weekly: 804
Household of 5: • Annual: 48,945 • Monthly: 4,079 • Twice per month: 2,040 • Every two weeks: 1,883 • Weekly: 942
Household of 6: • Annual: 56,095 • Monthly: 4,675 • Twice per month: 2,338 • Every two weeks: 2,158 • Weekly: 1,079
Household of 7: • Annual: 63,245 • Monthly: 5,271 • Twice per month: 2,636 • Every two weeks: 2,433 • Weekly: 1,217
Household of 8: • Annual: 70,395 • Monthly: 5,867 • Twice per month: 2,934 • Every two weeks: 2,708 • Weekly: 1,354
*For each additional family member, add: • Annual: 7,150 • Monthly: 596 • Twice per month: 298 • Every two weeks: 275 • Weekly: 138
Children in households receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance to Families in Idaho or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations are eligible for free or reduced-price meals and may be directly certified or may submit an application for these children with abbreviated information.
In August, households receiving SNAP, TAFI or Medicaid benefits will be directly certified to receive free or reduced-price meal or milk benefits and will be advised through a letter from the schools advising them of their eligibility. No other application or verification of eligibility is required for students who are 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, Head Start, homeless or runaway education or is in court-ordered foster care.
Households notified of their children’s eligibility must contact the school if they choose to decline the free meal benefits. The household will be notified by their district or charter 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 who do not receive notification of eligibility for free and reduced-price meals or free milk may apply for benefits by completing a confidential application through their district.
Parents or guardians who become unemployed may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals or for free milk during the period of unemployment, provided that the loss of income causes the household income during the period of unemployment to be within the eligibility criteria.