Free/reduced priced lunches can save you money this school year

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mike Tateishi
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  It's been said that there is no such thing as a free lunch. This is not necessarily true on Okinawa, as eligible families can get their children's lunches for free or save 80 percent. 

The Okinawa District Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program differs from its stateside counterpart by allowing more families to qualify for benefits. The income threshold is based on Alaska's federal poverty guidelines, which means a family of four in Okinawa can earn up to $51,005 a year and still qualify for the program; that's 40 cents per meal versus $2.05. 

"The nice part [about the program] is that this is for all the kids in a family," said Dan Daniels, the Okinawa district transportation officer. 

This means that every meal for each mouth will be offered at the free or reduced price, a discount that translates into saving hundreds or thousands of dollars per year, depending on the size of the family. 

The program isn't limited to junior Airmen; some senior non-commissioned officers qualify for reduced priced lunches as well. 

"Five minutes of your time and $1,300 - you can't beat that," said Master Sgt. Craig Larson, who has four children. 

Despite how easy it is to register, only 481 families island-wide have registered so far this year. Last year the total enrollment was more than 1,600. Mr. Daniels said that what many families don't realize is that they must register annually, a necessary step due to the yearly fluctuations in a family's income. 

"The USDA audits about ten percent of the applications," said Mr. Daniels. If someone is found to have an income higher than the cutoff they would have to pay back the money and might face administrative action. 

According to Mr. Daniels, anything reported to the IRS at the end of the year must be listed when determining eligibility for the program. This includes basic military pay, basic allowance for subsistence, a spouse's wages, rental income, and investment income, to name a few. Overseas housing allowance and cost of living allowance are not factored into the income calculation. Income increases by more than $50 per month must be reported to ensure that a family can still qualify. 

The school transportation office near Gate 1 can go over your household earnings and make sure you meet the requirements. For some, this is as simple as providing the member's leave and earnings statement. For others, it may mean breaking out all the financial data from the file cabinet. 

Mr. Daniels said the program is entirely discreet. Unlike food stamps or vouchers, children going through the lunch line simply give their name or personal ID number. The electronic system is the same one used by children paying full price, so there is no need to worry about any cafeteria gossip regarding who's getting that elusive free lunch.