CACFP Income Eligibility Guidance for Child Care Centers
Parent or Guardian Letter
The sample parent letter provides the required information about CACFP and instructions for completing the IEF.
Remember: The parent is not required to complete the IEF. If an enrolled participant has not completed the IEF, the child must be claimed in the paid meal category.
This letter is updated for each claim year, July 1 through June 30. Be sure to use the most current parent letter with the IEF.
Child and Adult Care Food Program
Parent Letter – Non-Pricing Child Care Centers
July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027
Dear Parent or Legal Guardian:
Our center is currently participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. This program reimburses the center for the partial cost of meals provided to children and allows the center to provide nutritious meals without increasing the center's fees to you. If your yearly income is equal to or below the amount listed for your family size on the chart below, your child is eligible for free or reduced-price meals. If the income is higher than the amount listed for your family size, you do not need to complete the income application.
| Family Size | Yearly Income | Family Size | Yearly Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $29,526 | 5 | $71,558 |
| 2 | $40,034 | 6 | $82,066 |
| 3 | $50,542 | 7 | $92,574 |
| 4 | $61,050 | 8 | $103,082 |
| For each additional family member, add $10,508 | |||
To apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits for your children, you must complete the attached Income Eligibility Form (IEF). Your application for free or reduced-price meal benefits cannot be approved unless the attached application is completed according to the directions provided; however, you are not required to complete the IEF. Notify the center should the household income decrease and/or if the household size increases. A participant may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The application is valid until the last day of the month in which the form was approved/dated/signed one year earlier.
Sincerely,
Center Owner/Director
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.