Helping families access services and resources

As new federal income guidelines take effect for the 2025-26 school year, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has announced new tools for school districts as they support eligible families in completing the Application for Educational Benefits. Completing the form not only unlocks additional resources for families, such as summer grocery benefits, utility discounts, and test fee waivers, but also secures critical federal investments for schools.

Although Minnesota now provides free school meals for students attending schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program, those schools must still collect Applications for Educational Benefits to determine eligibility categories and receive the correct federal and state reimbursements.

MDE’s new Fill the Form campaign provides schools and districts promotional tools to remind families: One form. Five minutes. Big impact.

Schools and districts can access promotional materials, including flyers, posters, and social media graphics, through the Fill the Form campaign toolkit (www.education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/FNS/SNP/free/fill/).

2025-26 income 

guidelines

Families may qualify for free benefits with monthly incomes up to $2,292 for a family of two, increasing by $596 for each additional family member. Reduced-price benefits are available at higher levels, up to $3,261 monthly for a family of two, with increases of $848 for each additional member.

Multiple ways 

to qualify

Households may qualify based on income, participation in assistance programs such as SNAP, MFIP, or FDPIR, or through student status such as foster care, Head Start, homelessness, or migrant status. Children may also be directly certified without an application if they already participate in qualifying programs.

Year-Round 

applications

Families can apply at any time during the school year, including those experiencing temporary income loss due to unemployment or other circumstances. Families whose applications are denied have the right to appeal.

Families can complete the Application for Educational Benefits through their school or district website. 

About the Minnesota 

Department of 

Education

The Minnesota Department of Education oversees federal and state nutrition programs that provide healthy meals to students and children in care across the state, supporting health and educational outcomes for thousands of Minnesotans.

Please contact mde.fns@state.mn.us with any questions. Families may also call (651) 582-8526 or 800-366-8922 (toll-free in Minnesota only).

Download the public notice. Federal regulations for these programs require the notice to be provided to local media so that, when possible, it may be printed as a public service to readers.

MDE requests the public notice be posted in the appropriate section of the printed or electronic material.