Parents or guardians for children needing assistance can apply at any point through the year by contacting the school office where the child is enrolled. Because the programs operate through state-level agencies, the applications vary from state to state. However, the USDA provides prototype applications online to guide people interested in the program. The state agencies are required to publish their application guidelines by July 1 each year.
FRP students can receive benefits from multiple programs offered by their school district. The most universal program that provides FRP meals is the school lunch program, which entitles students to lunches at all public schools. Some schools also offer a school breakfast program, a snack program and the Special Milk Program. While the FRP program is primarily used with state-funded public schools, some non-profit private schools are eligible to participate in the FRP Meals Program.
A student can be eligible for a free meal if the student is under age 18 and the student's househould income is at 130 percent or less of the federal poverty line. The formula used to determine the poverty level depends on on the size of the family. For example, the poverty line for a single-parent household is $14,710 as of July 1, 2011 but it is $22,350 for a family of four. Under these guidelines, a student with a single parent making $20,147 or less can qualify for a free meal.
In addition to the eligibility terms defined by the poverty line, students can participate in the FRP program if their families are already judged as eligible for certain other forms of assistance. These include the Food Stamp Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or the Temporary Assistance for Needy Children Program (TANF). Students enrolled in the Head Start Program or who have been categorized as migrants or runaways, also qualify for free meals.