National School Meal Program FAQ
Children Need Healthy Meals To Learn
School meals are offered at every school in New Jersey. Some children pay, but for low and moderate income children, school meals are free. If you are not sure if your school-age child should be getting free meals, ask your school. If your child gets free meals, it will not be any different than the full price meals, and nobody will know that your child is in the free meal program.
All public schools must offer free school meals to families who show need. Some private schools also take part. In some places families can also get free after-school snacks or summer meals for their children.
Why Get Free School Meals?
- Children on school meals do better in school
- Free school meals mean that your family can save money on groceries
- School meals are healthy and include breakfast and lunch
- Children who get school meals are eligible for other benefits such as Summer EBT
Who Can Get Free School Meals?
- Any family with school-age children whom meet the NJ income guidelines for free school meals can apply. Current guidelines are 225% of the Federal Poverty Level.
- If a family currently receives food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the child is eligible for free school meals. Migrant, homeless, or runaway children also qualify. Most students in this category should be automatically enrolled.
- If anyone in your family gets WIC, your child may be able to get free school meals
- If you get unemployment, you may be able to get free school meals
How Do I Apply For Free School Meals?
- You must live in New Jersey
- You DO NOT need to be a US citizen. There are no citizenship requirements and families receiving school meals assistance will not have their immigration status affected.
- You must be the parent or primary caregiver of a child who goes to school
- You must meet the New Jersey income guidelines of 225% of the Federal Poverty Level
- You must apply online at your school district website or with a paper application through the school your child attends
NOTE: You do not need to apply if you got a letter from your school that your children are already in the program. Read that letter carefully to make sure all children in your home are listed. If not, tell your school.
You need to show proof of your family paycheck. If you have a job where pay changes from month to month, write down the money you normally get.
If you lost your job or had your hours cut, write down the money you are making now. Write down a zero in any place where there is no money coming in for that person. Note: if you leave a space blank, it will be counted as a zero.
If you are in the military list basic pay and bonuses. Also list cash value allowances for housing, food, clothing or Family Subsistence Allowances. Do NOT include your housing allowance if it is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative. Do NOT include combat pay.
Schools send free school meal applications home at the beginning of each school year.
But you may apply for school meals at any time throughout the school year. This is a good idea if your need has changed. If someone in your family loses a job during the school year, you should apply.