Pennsylvania Department of Education Announces Federal Income Guidelines for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals and Free Milk for 2014-15 School Year

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Department of Education today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released federal income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price school meals and free milk for July 2014 through June 2015.

Schools and other institutions and facilities use these guidelines to determine eligibility for the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program for Children, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program.

Households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) need only include the SNAP or TANF case number on their application.

Households enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) also may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals and should complete a Household Meal Benefit Application.

Federal law prohibits any child eligible under these programs from being discriminated against based on race, sex, color, national origin, age or disability.

To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination complaint form online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html or at any USDA office, or call 1-866-632-9992.  Complaints can also be submitted by mail to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, fax 202-690-7442 or email at [email protected].

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339, or 1-800-845-6136 for Spanish.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

For more information on school nutrition, visit www.education.state.pa.us and enter keyword "School Nutrition."

Media contact: Tim Eller, 717-783-9802

Editor's note:  The following annual income eligibility guidelines are effective July 1, 2014, until further notice:

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education