BOISE, ID – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released updated income eligibility guidelines for the 2025-2026 school year, allowing families to apply for free or reduced-price meals through Idaho schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
Each year, the Idaho Department of Education announces these income guidelines to help ensure all students have access to nutritious meals. Eligible students may also receive free milk if enrolled in a school that participates in the Special Milk Program.
Eligibility is determined by household size and income. Students may qualify for:
- Free meals if their household income is at or below the levels shown in the chart below.
- Reduced-price meals if their household income exceeds the free meal threshold but remains within the reduced-price guidelines. The maximum reduced price is 40 cents for lunch and 30 cents for breakfast.
Children in households that receive benefits from SNAP, TAFI, or FDPIR may qualify automatically through direct certification and will receive a notification from their school in August. Children in foster care, Head Start, migrant, homeless, or runaway programs may also be eligible.
Families who do not receive automatic eligibility notifications are encouraged to apply at any point during the school year. Changes in household income, including periods of unemployment, can also qualify students for meal benefits.
Below are the USDA’s income eligibility guidelines:
Free Meals Income Eligibility (2025–2026)
| Household Size | Annual | Monthly | Twice per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $20,345 | $1,696 | $848 | $783 | $392 |
| 2 | $27,495 | $2,292 | $1,146 | $1,058 | $529 |
| 3 | $34,645 | $2,888 | $1,444 | $1,333 | $667 |
| 4 | $41,795 | $3,483 | $1,742 | $1,608 | $804 |
| 5 | $48,945 | $4,079 | $2,040 | $1,883 | $942 |
| 6 | $56,095 | $4,675 | $2,338 | $2,158 | $1,079 |
| 7 | $63,245 | $5,271 | $2,636 | $2,433 | $1,217 |
| 8 | $70,395 | $5,867 | $2,934 | $2,708 | $1,354 |
| Each additional person | + $7,150 | + $596 | + $298 | + $275 | + $138 |
Reduced-Price Meals Income Eligibility (2025–2026)
| Household Size | Annual | Monthly | Twice per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28,953 | $2,413 | $1,207 | $1,114 | $557 |
| 2 | $39,128 | $3,261 | $1,631 | $1,505 | $753 |
| 3 | $49,303 | $4,109 | $2,055 | $1,897 | $949 |
| 4 | $59,478 | $4,957 | $2,479 | $2,288 | $1,144 |
| 5 | $69,653 | $5,805 | $2,903 | $2,679 | $1,340 |
| 6 | $79,828 | $6,653 | $3,327 | $3,071 | $1,536 |
| 7 | $90,003 | $7,501 | $3,751 | $3,462 | $1,731 |
| 8 | $100,178 | $8,349 | $4,175 | $3,853 | $1,927 |
| Each additional person | + $10,175 | + $848 | + $424 | + $392 | + $196 |
Applications are confidential and may be submitted through local school districts. Households have the right to appeal eligibility decisions, and application information may be verified at any time during the school year.
For more information, visit sde.idaho.gov or contact your school district’s child nutrition office.
