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Study of Income Verification in the National School Lunch Program

Resource type
Research
Research type
Payment Accuracy and Program Integrity
Resource Materials
PDF Icon Executive Summary (848.05 KB)
PDF Icon Appendix: Part 1 (2.68 MB)
PDF Icon Appendix Part 2 (2.89 MB)

Prior to 1982, school districts were not required to verify the income or household size declared by households that applied for meal benefits. It was assumed that households were correctly reporting their income, and children from households that applied and declared a sufficiently Low income were given free or reduced-price meals. From 1982 to the present, the verification of household income for at least some of the approved application s for meal benefits has been part of each school district's responsibilities.

Page updated: September 18, 2023