Income Levels for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch

Big Island Now stock photo.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education recently announced its policy for free and reduced-price meals for children unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

Each school has a copy of the policy.

The following household size and income criteria will be used for determining eligibility. Children from households whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or reduced price meals.

Household Size	Yearly	Monthly	Weekly		Household Size	Yearly	Monthly	Weekly
1	$25,290	$2,108	$487		5	$60,514	$5,043	$1,164
2	$34,096	$2,842	$656		6	$69,320	$5,777	$1,334
3	$42,902	$3,576	$826		7	$78,126	$6,511	$1,503
4	$51,708	$4,309	$995		8	$86,969	$7,248	$1,673
	For  each  additional person, add:					$8,843	$737	$171

Applications are now being accepted for the current 2016-17 school year. Application forms are being sent home with a letter to parent/guardian.

To apply for free or reduced price meals, households should submit an electronic application online or complete a paper application. The information provided on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school or other program officials.

For HIDOE officials to determine eligibility, households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) must list the child’s name, date of birth, grade, school code and their SNAP or TANF case number, and the signature and name of an adult household member.

Households not receiving SNAP or TANF must list: 1) the names of everyone in the household; 2) the amount of income received by each person, how often the income is received and the source of the income; 3) the name and last four digits of Social Security Number of the household’s primary wage earner, or if no adult household members have a Social Security Number, leave this space blank and mark the box labeled “Check if no SSN;” 4) the signature of an adult household member.

Applications may be submitted at any time during the year.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price policy, the DOE will review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may wish to discuss the decision with the reviewing official on an informal basis. Parents wishing to make a formal appeal may make a request for a hearing on the decision in writing to:

Glenna Shim, Director
School Food Services Branch
1106 Koko Head Ave.
Honolulu, HI  96816

The information provided by the household is confidential and will be used only for purposes of determining eligibility and verifying data.

In accordance with federal law and US Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.