Free and Reduced-Price School Meals
Hungry children can’t learn. Which is why Maryland school districts participate in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program to provide students with the opportunity to access healthy meals during the school day.
If a family’s household income is the same as or less than the amounts outlined in the Income Guidelines chart below, the children in that household may qualify for free or reduced-price* school meals.
*Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, Maryland students in the reduced-price category will also receive meals for free.
Income Guidelines for the 2022–2023 School Year
Household Size | Annually | Monthly | Weekly |
1 | $25,142 | $2,096 | $484 |
2 | $33,874 | $2,823 | $652 |
3 | $42,606 | $3,551 | $820 |
4 | $51,338 | $4,279 | $988 |
5 | $60,070 | $5,006 | $1,156 |
6 | $68,802 | $5,734 | $1,324 |
7 | $77,534 | $6,462 | $1,492 |
8 | $86,266 | $7,189 | $1,659 |
for each additional family member, add | +$8,732 | +$728 | +$168 |
Applying for School Meal Benefits
Links can be found below for each school district’s application. Many school districts allow families to submit online applications, which are more private and can be processed faster. However, paper applications are still accepted so please reach out to your child’s school if you need a printed application or additional assistance with completing your form. More information can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.
School District FARMs Form Links
- Provides free school breakfast and lunch to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision
- Provides free school breakfast and lunch to all students in the district through the Community Eligibility Provision
- Provides free school breakfast and lunch to all students in the district through the Community Eligibility Provision
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I need to fill out a separate form for each child?
A. No. The Meal Benefit Application is a family/household application. All children must be listed on one application whether you complete a paper application or submit an online application.
Q. Do I need to fill out a form if I filled one out last year?
A.Yes. Families must apply every year to determine their eligibility in the FARMs program. To avoid interruption in meal benefits while new applications are processed, student eligibility is carried over temporarily from the previous school year until the new application can be processed in the new school year. Carryover applications will be terminated at the end of September and all benefits will cease unless a new application is submitted.
Q. Do I need to fill out a form if I received a letter saying my child was directly certified for free meals?
A. No, if your household is currently receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], or Temporary Cash Assistance [TCA], or if the child in your household is in foster care, certified as homeless, runaway, or migrant, or in Head Start, Early Head Start, or Even Start, they should be directly certified to receive free school meals by your school district. If this is the case, do not fill out a Meal Benefit Application.
Q. Can my child qualify for free school meals if I’m already receiving other assistance (like SNAP, WIC, TCA, etc.)?
A.Yes! All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], or Temporary Cash Assistance [TCA], foster children, children certified as homeless, runaway, migrant, Head Start, Early Head Start, or Even Start can receive free meals regardless of your income and should be directly certified to receive free school meals without the need to fill out an application.
Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals but will need to submit an application for review.
Q. Can I apply if I or my child are not U.S. citizens?
A. Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Q. What do I do if my income varies during the year?
A. List the amount that you normally receive. If you normally get overtime, include it. If your hours or wages have been reduced, use your current income.
Additionally, students or families may apply any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced-price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.
Q. I’m not sure if my child will be participating in the school meal programs, can I still apply?
A. Yes! Although families are not required to apply, if your household income falls within the federal Income Eligibility Guidelines in the chart above, submitting a FARMs application may connect you and your child to additional benefits such as discounted tuition for summer school, reduced SAT or ACT test fees, and internet assistance programs. Additionally, the income information you provide may help your school receive much needed Federal funding.
Q. Who should I include as members of my household?
A. You must include all people living in your household, related or not, such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends, who share income and expenses. You must include yourself and all children who are living with you. If you live with other people who are economically independent, do not include them.
Q. My family would like to be connected to other assistance programs. Where should I look for more information?
A. Visit Maryland Hunger Solutions’ Get Help page to learn about other nutrition assistance programs and resources.
