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Income Eligibility Scales for 2017-18

Income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meals or free milk in Child Nutrition Programs.

Income Eligibility Guidelines
for Free and Reduced-Price Meals or Free Milk
in Child Nutrition Programs

Effective July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018, participants from households with incomes at or below the following levels may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals or free milk.

Note: The new income calculations are based on annual figures and the following formulas: Monthly = annual income divided by 12; Twice Per Month = annual income divided by 24; Every Two Weeks = annual income divided by 26; and Weekly = annual income divided by 52. All dollar amounts are rounded up to the next whole dollar.

Free Eligibility Scale
Meals, Snacks, and Milk

Household Size Annual Monthly Twice Per Month Every Two Weeks Weekly

1

$ 15,678

$ 1,307

$   654

$  603

$  302

2

21,112

1,760

880

812

406

3

26,546

2,213

1,107

1,021

511

4

31,980

2,665

1,333

1,230

615

5

37,414

3,118

1,559

1,439

720

6

42,848

3,571

1,786

1,648

824

7

48,282

4,024

2,012

1,857

929

8

53,716

4,477

2,239

2,066

1,033

For each additional family member, add:

$  5,434

$    453

$   227

$   209

$    105

Reduced-Price Eligibility Scale
Meals and Snacks

Household Size Annual Monthly Twice Per Month Every Two Weeks Weekly

1

$ 22,311

$ 1,860

$   930

$   859

$  430

2

30,044

2,504

1,252

1,156

578

3

37,777

3,149

1,575

1,453

727

4

45,510

3,793

1,897

1,751

876

5

53,243

4,437

2,219

2,048

1,024

6

60,976

5,082

2,541

2,346

1,173

7

68,709

5,726

2,863

2,643

1,322

8

76,442

6,371

3,186

2,941

1,471

For each additional family member, add:

$  7,733

$    645

$    323

$   298

$   149

  • Household is synonymous with family and means a group of related or unrelated individuals who are not residents of an institution or boarding house, but who are living as one economic unit sharing housing and all significant income and expenses. This scale does not apply to households that receive CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits, or children who are recipients of California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Program (CalWORKs). Those children are automatically eligible for free meal benefits.
  • In the Adult Care Component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program, a household includes the adult participant and, if residing with the participant, the spouse as well as any persons who are economically dependent on the adult participant. This scale does not apply to members of CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps) households, or recipients of Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid/Medi-Cal, or FDPIR benefits. Those participants are automatically eligible for free meals.
Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, November 08, 2022
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