Program Overview
The Special Milk Program for Maryland is a federal level program funded by the central government. The program assists low-income households to pay their children milk expenses at school in different public and private institutions. The program is administered by the Maryland Department of Education.
Program Benefits
The program helps those kids get the maximum amount of Vitamin A and D in their fluid intake. This helps in the development of strong teeth and bones in the children’s bodies. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. However, different school food authorities have different conditions regarding the type of food to serve and how to serve them.
Program Objectives
The main aim of the Special Milk Program is to make a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet accessible to children from low-income households. The program tries to establish good eating habits in children. The children who are currently enrolled in schools can receive the program’s benefits. The student in split kindergarten or pre-primary class in the school can also apply for the program given the school is listed with the SMP program in the state of Maryland. The meals are provided either free or at a very low cost.
Eligibility Requirements
Children who qualify for the Maryland Special Milk Program will receive milk for free or at a reduced price in their schools. The requirements to apply are,
- Families with dependent kids and an income level below 130% of the federal poverty line (FPL) can apply for the SMP benefit program.
- Households with income levels between 130% and 185% of the federal poverty level and have dependent children can receive food at lower prices in their schools. (prices will reduce up to 40 cents and no more)
- Kids with family income more than 185% of the FPL have to pay full prices but may also receive some kind of funding. Every food administration office in your school decides its prices for fully paid meals.
The above requirements are specified by the federal government and may vary from state to state. Hence, it is important to check with your local agencies to get your hands on accurate and most up-to-date information.
There are other eligibility conditions for the Special Milk Program for the state of Maryland including,
- The candidate must be a permanent citizen of the U.S
- The applicant must be a resident of the state of Maryland
- The candidate is a parent or caretaker or a primary guardian with kids attending either high school or below
- The candidate’s household income must fall under the eligibility condition determined by the program
The candidate’s citizenship and immigration status are not the primary requirements to apply for the Special Milk Program in the state of Maryland. However, in both cases, you have to follow the same procedure to get the program’s benefits.
It is advisable to apply for the program before the deadline in order to make sure your child is not deprived of the program’s benefits. The benefits provided by the program are effective throughout the school’s academic year.
The number of members in a household and total household income is also very important factors while considering a candidate for the Maryland Special Milk Program. The amount of the maximum gross income level before taxes must equate.
Size Of Household | Maximum Annual Income Level ($) |
1 | $27,861 |
2 | $37,814 |
3 | $47,767 |
4 | $57,720 |
5 | $67,673 |
6 | $77,626 |
7 | $87,579 |
8 | $97,532 |
In case, the household size is greater than 8 members an additional amount of $8,177 is considered per member. The amount of annual income level might change from time to time. Therefore, it is a good step to contact the managing agency in your area. They will be able to provide you with the most recent and up-to-date guidelines about the Maryland Special Milk Program.
Individuals who are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program are automatically selected for the Special Milk Program in the state of Maryland.
How to Apply
To get your child registered for the Special Milk Program at school, you will have to get in touch with your child’s school office. The school administration that deals with this program will guide you through the whole application process. You can go to the official website of the Maryland Special Milk Program to learn more about the program details.
You can call the Special Milk Program’s office at 410-767-0214 or email at eatsmart@msde.state.md.us in case of further queries regarding the SMP in the state of Maryland.
For Further Information
You can also visit state education agency websites to learn more about the program. The website provides you with up-to-date information regarding the program to make the application process less daunting. You can use the same procedure if you want to reduce the prices of milk at your child’s school.
The agency looking into the SMP program makes sure that all the applications are accessed properly for the Special Milk Program in the state of Maryland. The agency makes sure to determine the eligibility of the candidates within ten days of submitting the application form. The qualified families are approached about their qualifications once they are selected. This makes sure the families don not have to pay any meal charges which might cause a burden to them. Visit Benefits by State for more insights.
