Indiana Free Lunch and School Supplies Help for Kinship Grandparents

School costs add up fast — lunches, supplies, fees, backpacks, clothes. If you're a grandparent raising a grandchild in Indiana, several programs can cover these expenses partially or completely, and qualifying is often easier than you'd expect.

Free and Reduced School Meals

Children who receive SNAP or TANF benefits are automatically certified for free school breakfast and lunch through direct certification. The school district matches enrollment records against DFR benefit data — no paper application needed. If the child is receiving benefits, free meals should activate automatically when the child enrolls.

Children placed by DCS as foster children are also directly certified for free meals regardless of household income.

If the grandchild isn't on SNAP or TANF, you can submit a household income application through the school. Families with income at or below 130% FPL qualify for free meals; those between 130% and 185% FPL qualify for reduced-price meals (no more than 40 cents for lunch, 30 cents for breakfast).

There's a shortcut: if the child's school participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), all students eat free regardless of individual household income. Many high-poverty Indiana schools and districts have adopted CEP. Check with the school's main office or cafeteria.

Summer EBT

Indiana did not participate in Summer EBT for program year 2025-2026. For summer food support, ask your school district about the current summer meal sites and check the Indiana Department of Education's current program information.

Back-to-School Supplies

Indiana doesn't have a single statewide back-to-school supply program, but local resources fill the gap:

• Township trustees can provide emergency assistance for school supplies and clothing. Apply at your township trustee's office before the school year starts.
• Indiana 211 (dial 2-1-1) can connect you with local back-to-school drives, church-sponsored supply giveaways, and nonprofit programs in your county.
• Salvation Army and United Way chapters in many Indiana cities run annual back-to-school programs that provide backpacks, supplies, and clothing.
• DCS personal allowance — if the child is a DCS ward placed with you, the $300 per year personal allowance can cover school-related costs.

School Fee Waivers

Indiana law provides that a parent who meets the financial eligibility standard under IC 20-33-5-2 may not be required to pay fees for a child's participation in a public-school course. A school may still assess a reasonable fee for curricular materials that are lost or significantly damaged. Ask the school about the application and whether your household meets the financial eligibility standard.

Putting It Together

Apply for Child-Only TANF and SNAP through fssabenefits.in.gov. If approved, the child can be directly certified for free school meals. Ask the school separately about fee assistance and check the current state information for summer meal options.

The Indiana Kinship Financial Help Guide covers the full range of benefits available to kinship families, including the DFR application that triggers school meal certification and other education-related supports.

See more Indiana guides →