Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Income Eligibility Scales for School Year 2022–23

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

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 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits—known as CalFresh in California, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits, or children who are recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families—known as CalWORKs in California. 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 SNAP households, or recipients of Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid (known as Medi-Cal in California), or FDPIR benefits. Those participants are automatically eligible for free meals.

Effective July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, 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

$ 17,667

$ 1,473

$ 737

$ 680

$ 340

2

$ 23,803

$ 1,984

$ 992

$ 916

$ 458

3

$ 29,939

$ 2,495

$ 1,248

$ 1,152

$ 576

4

$ 36,075

$ 3,007

$ 1,504

$ 1,388

$ 694

5

$ 42,211

$ 3,518

$ 1,759

$ 1,624

$ 812

6

$ 48,347

$ 4,029

$ 2,015

$ 1,860

$ 930

7

$ 54,483

$ 4,541

$ 2,271

$ 2,096

$ 1,048

8

$ 60,619

$ 5,052

$ 2,526

$ 2,332

$ 1,166

For each additional family member, add:

$ 6,136

$ 512

$ 256

$ 236

$ 118

Reduced-price Eligibility Scale
Meals and Snacks

Household Size Annual Monthly Twice Per Month Every Two Weeks Weekly

1

$ 25,142

$ 2,096

$ 1,048

$ 967

$ 484

2

$ 33,874

$ 2,823

$ 1,412

$ 1,303

$ 652

3

$ 42,606

$ 3,551

$ 1,776

$ 1,639

$ 820

4

$ 51,338

$ 4,279

$ 2,140

$ 1,975

$ 988

5

$ 60,070

$ 5,006

$ 2,503

$ 2,311

$ 1,156

6

$ 68,802

$ 5,734

$ 2,867

$ 2,647

$ 1,324

7

$ 77,534

$ 6,462

$ 3,231

$ 2,983

$ 1,492

8

$ 86,266

$ 7,189

$ 3,595

$ 3,318

$ 1,659

For each additional family member, add:

$ 8,732

$ 728

$ 364

$ 336

$ 168
Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, May 03, 2023
Share this Page
Share via Email icon Share with Twitter icon Share with Facebook icon Share with LinkedIn icon Share via Link icon
Trending in Nutrition
Recently Posted in Nutrition

  • Upcoming Webinars and Team Nutrition Materials (added 19-Sep-2023)
    The USDA’s Team Nutrition (TN) initiative is excited to share three upcoming webinar opportunities and a reminder to order TN’s print materials for National School Lunch Week, which is October 9-13, 2023.
  • Net Cash Resources and Allowable Costs Reminder (added 19-Sep-2023)
    Program operators that have NCR of six months or more average operating expenses are required to have a budget agreement. Program operators are reminded that cafeteria funds are to be used for the operation and improvement of school food service.
  • Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule (added 19-Sep-2023)
    On August 23, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service released SP 21-2023, Initial Implementation Memorandum: Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule.
  • Governor Newsom Expands State of Emergency (added 14-Sep-2023)
    Governor Newsom Expands State of Emergency Due to Tropical Storm Hilary Impacts in Siskiyou County.
  • Webinar: KIT Freshly Prepared Onsite Meal Criteria (added 12-Sep-2023)
    This announcement provides information on how to register for the KIT Freshly Prepared Onsite Meal Criteria webinar.