• All children in the household are eligible if any person in the household receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF or welfare) benefits.
• Individual children may qualify if the child in your household is a foster child under the legal responsibility of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) or a court. 
• Individual children may qualify if the child is a student enrolled in Head Start, is homeless or a runaway, or is a member of a migrant family.

Summer Meal Programs

In addition, Summer Meal Programs are open to all kids and teens 18 and under at locations across Texas. Meals and snacks are also available to persons with disabilities, over age 18, who participate in school programs for people who are mentally or physically disabled.  Find a site near you here.

A household is defined as a group of related or unrelated individuals who are not residents of an institution or boarding house but who are living as one economic unit. This means they generally reside in the same house and share expenses such as rent, utilities and food.

For example, if a parent and child are living with the child’s grandparent, the grandparent’s income would be considered as part of the household income in determining if the child meets the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.

In the case of joint custody where the child physically changes residence, the child is considered part of the household where he/she resides. If both parents apply for benefits under the same local education agency for the child and different eligibility statues result, the greatest benefit level is used. For example, if the mother’s situation results in eligibility for no cost meals but the father’s application is denied, the child would receive no cost meals regardless of which parent had custody at the time.