Every day, schools offer healthy meals to students through the school nutrition programs. The National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are government-funded meals programs. All meals must meet good nutritional standards. Many schools offer both breakfast and lunch.
How do the programs work?
Why eat school meals?
How does a child qualify?
A few schools in New Jersey provide meals to all students automatically, but most do not. If your child’s school does not, then there are two ways to qualify:
Enrolling in the school meals program can also qualify a family for other benefits, like P-EBT supplemental benefits.
Families with income up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Limit should apply.
Income Eligibility Guidelines
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
Household Size |
Free Meals
Maximum Family Income
| ||
Annual |
Month |
Week | |
1 |
$23,828 |
1,986 |
459 |
2 |
$32,227 |
2,686 |
620 |
3 |
$40,626 |
3,386 |
782 |
4 |
$49,025 |
4,086 |
943 |
5 |
$57,424 |
4,786 |
1,105 |
6 |
$65,823 |
5,486 |
1,266 |
7 |
$74,222 |
6,186 |
1,428 |
8 |
$82,621 |
6,886 |
1,589 |
For each add'l family member, add |
+ $8,399 |
+ 700 |
+ 162 |
How and when can I apply?
Applications can be made at any time during the school year—simply contact your child's school office.
An application may not be required at all, depending on what other public benefits a family receives. Also, applications are not needed for migrant, homeless, and runaway children. Contact your child’s school for more information. Applications must be signed by the child’s parent or guardian and must include either a Social Security number or a check mark in the box marked “none” on the application. Not having a Social Security number will not affect whether a family qualifies and will be kept private.
Only one application is required each year, even if income changes. And one application is required for each family, not one for each child. Once the application is returned to the school, the family should be contacted within 10 days.
If a family doesn’t qualify now, they can apply again later if their income goes down during the year, if they start getting food stamps or other benefits, or if family size increases.
This information last reviewed: Aug 13, 2021