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Income Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Free and Reduced-price Meals
in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) School Nutrition Programs
The income guidelines below are from the USDA’s annual adjustments to the Income Guidelines (7CFR Part
245.3(a)). They are used in Connecticut to determine the eligibility of participants for free and reduced-price meals
and milk in the USDA Child Nutrition Programs from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. These income guidelines
must be used by all individuals who review applications, and should be distributed to all schools/sites for use by
determining officials.
Before approving any free/reduced-price meal/milk applications, the determining official must review the USDA’s
publication, Eligibility Manual for School Meals; the Application for Free and Reduced-price School Meals or Free Milk, and
accompanying instructions; and the Parent/Guardian Letter to Households for Meals and Snacks and Parent/Guardian Letter
to Households for Special Milk Program. These documents are available in the “Documents/Forms” section of the
Connecticut State Department of Education’s Eligibility for Free and Reduced-price Meals and Milk in School
Nutrition Programs webpage.
Income Guidelines for Child Nutrition Programs: July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022*
Free meals Reduced-price meals
Every Every
two two
Annual Monthly Twice weeks Weekly Annual Monthly Twice weeks Weekly
Household gross gross Per gross gross Household gross gross per gross gross
Size income income month income income Size income income month income income
1 16,744 1,396 698 644 322 1 23,828 1,986 993 917 459
2 22,646 1,888 944 871 436 2 32,227 2,686 1,343 1,240 620
3 28,548 2,379 1,190 1,098 549 3 40,626 3,386 1,693 1,563 782
4 34,450 2,871 1,436 1,325 663 4 49,025 4,086 2,043 1,886 943
5 40,352 3,363 1,682 1,552 776 5 57,424 4,786 2,393 2,209 1,105
6 46,254 3,855 1,928 1,779 890 6 65,823 5,486 2,743 2,532 1,266
7 52,156 4,347 2,174 2,006 1,003 7 74,222 6,186 3,093 2,855 1,428
8 58,058 4,839 2,420 2,233 1,117 8 82,621 6,886 3,443 3,178 1,589
Each Each
additional additional
family + 5,902 + 492 + 246 + 227 + 114 family + 8,399 + 700 + 350 + 324 + 162
member member
* Income means income before deductions such as income taxes, Social Security taxes, insurance premiums, charitable contributions and
bonds. It includes the following: 1) Monetary compensation for services, including wages, salary, commissions, or fees; 2) net income
from non-farm self-employment; 3) net income from farm self-employment; 4) Social Security; 5) dividends or interest on savings or
bonds or income from estates or trusts; 6) net rental income; 7) public assistance or welfare payments; 8) unemployment
compensation; 9) government civilian employee or military retirement, or pensions or veterans’ payments; 10) private pensions or
annuities; 11) alimony or child support payments; 12) regular contributions from persons not living in the household; 13) net royalties;
and 14) other cash income. Other cash income includes cash amounts received or withdrawn from any source including savings,
investments, trust accounts, and other resources. “Income” as used here does not include any income or benefits received under any
Federal programs, which are excluded from consideration as income by any legislative prohibition, for example, the value of benefits
received under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Connecticut State Department of Education June 2021 Page 1 of 2
Income Guidelines for the USDA’s School Nutrition Programs
If a household has only one source of income, or if all sources of income are the same frequency, do not use
conversion factors. Compare the income or sum of the incomes to the chart on page 1 for the appropriate
frequency and household size to make the eligibility determination. Many households have different sources of
income coming into the home at different frequencies, such as weekly or bi-weekly wages and monthly social
security benefits. In these situations, convert all sources of income to an annual amount using the calculations
below.
• Weekly: Multiply by 52
• Every two weeks: Multiply by 26
• Twice per month: Multiply by 24
• Monthly: Multiply by 12
In applying the guidelines, the school food authority/institution must compare the household’s size and total
household income to the income guidelines to determine eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Children of
parents or guardians who become unemployed may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals or for free milk
during the period of unemployment.
For more information, visit the Connecticut State Department of Education’s (CSDE) Eligibility for Free
and Reduced-price Meals and Milk in School Nutrition Programs webpage or contact the school nutrition programs
staff in the CSDE Bureau of
Health/Nutrition, Family Services and Adult Education, 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite
504, Hartford, CT 06103-1841. This document is available at https://portal.ct.gov/-
/media/SDE/Nutrition/NSLP/Forms/FreeRed/Income_Guidelines_SNP.pdf.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies,
the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are
prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil
rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print,
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at
(800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027)
found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the
letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your
completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington,
D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Connecticut State Department of Education June 2021 Page 2 of 2