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Food: Government Food Programs

  • School Breakfast and Lunch

  • Universal Breakfast

  • Summer Food Service Programs
 

The School Breakfast and Lunch, Universal Breakfast, and Summer Food Service Programs are federal child nutrition programs administered in Massachusetts by the state's Department of Education (DOE).

Boston Public Schools participate in these programs and provide healthy free and reduced-price meals to children from low-income families.

  • School Breakfast and Lunch Programs provide subsidized meals to students, based on family income. Children can be served both breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday.
  • Universal Breakfast Program provides free breakfast to all students, regardless of income.
  • Summer Food Service Program provides free meals during school vacations at central neighborhood sites.
 

Eligibility

Income and Household Size

The Universal Breakfast and Summer Food Service Programs serve free meals to children regardless of household income.

School Breakfast and Lunch — In general, children receiving Food Stamps or Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) are automatically eligible for free school meals. Parents need to verify Food Stamp or TAFDC status to the school, but do not need to complete a school meal application.

Otherwise, for free and reduced-priced meals through the School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, children according to the federal poverty guidelines shown in the charts below.

For Free Meals children must be from households at or below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines shown below.
Number of people in your household Your monthly income before taxes must be equal to or less than Your yearly income before taxes must be equal to or less than
1 $960 $11,518
2 $1,294 $15,522
3 $1,628 $19,526
4 $1,961 $23,530
5 $2,295 $27,534
6 $2,629 $31,538
7 $2,962 $35,542
8 $3,296 $39,546
For each additional person add $334 add $4,004
Chart effective July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003

For Reduced Price Meals children must be from households between 130% and 185% of the federal poverty guidelines shown below.
Number of people in your household Your monthly income before taxes must be equal to or less than Your yearly income before taxes must be equal to or less than
1 $1,366 $16,391
2 $1,841 $22,089
3 $2,316 $27,787
4 $2,791 $33,485
5 $3,266 $39,183
6 $3,741 $44,881
7 $4,215 $50,277
8 $4,690 $56,070
For each additional person add $475 add $5,698
Chart effective July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003

Immigration

There are no immigration restrictions for child nutrition programs, and undocumented immigrants may access meals.

Since free and reduced-price meals qualify as a non-cash benefit, receiving them will not prevent immigrants from receiving a "green card" or legal permanent residence.

Residence

If you want to apply in the state of Massachusetts, you must live in the state of Massachusetts.

Cost
$ School Breakfast and School Lunch meals may be reduced-price or free, depending on household income.
$ Universal Breakfast and Summer Food Service meals are free.

Action Steps

School Breakfast and Lunch Programs

If your child is automatically eligible for free school meals, verify his/her Food Stamp or TAFDC status to the school.

You do NOT need to complete a school meal application.

Otherwise, fill out a school meal application and return it to the school.

All children receive applications at the beginning of the school year. If the school year has already started, you may request an application form at any time from the principal's office of your child's school.

Universal Breakfast & Summer Meals
1.

For a list of Universal Breakfast sites and their hours, call the Project Bread FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333.
2.

Show up at the site most convenient to you at the designated time.

Internet Resources
Massachusetts Department of Education
  Department of Education's detailed descriptions of the school meal programs
  www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/programs.html
Project Bread
  Project Bread is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit agency that works to alleviate, prevent, and end hunger in the state. This is a link to the organization's descriptions of the School Breakfast and Summer Food Service Programs on its website.
www.projectbread.org/programs03.html
 
  This information was updated August 20, 2002.
   
   
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