Free school meals, health care and other school services your child can get

This page is general information, not legal advice. For all your child's school rights, see Your child's rights in California public schools.

Are school meals really free for my child?

Yes. California gives two free meals, breakfast and lunch, every school day to every student who wants one in TK to 12 at public, county and charter schools. There is no income test, per the California Department of Education (last reviewed September 16, 2026).

You may still get a meal form. Schools use it for funding, not to decide if your child eats. The Attorney General says a school meal form may ask only for the last four digits of a Social Security number, and must say that leaving it blank will not block enrollment. Filling it out can help your school get more money for programs. It never asks about immigration status.

Mistakes to avoid

• Telling your child to skip school meals to "stay off the list." There is no list. Every student can eat.
• Sending money for breakfast or lunch. Your child does not need to pay.

Is there food help in the summer?

SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) gave $120 per eligible child for summer 2026, per CDSS (page updated June 3, 2026). Most eligible children get it automatically. If yours does not, apply at your child's school. CDSS says getting and using SUN Bucks does not affect a family's immigration status. Questions: 1-877-328-9677, or sunbucks@dss.ca.gov. Summer 2027 details were not posted as of October 21, 2026.

CalFresh (food money) changed on April 1, 2026. It is now limited mostly to U.S. citizens, nationals and green card holders, per San Mateo County. But parents can still apply for children who are U.S. citizens or have eligible status, whatever the parents' status, per CalFresh. Many families have a citizen child who qualifies.

WIC helps pregnant people and children under 5 with healthy food. California's eligibility check asks about where you live, family situation and income, not immigration status, per California WIC. Call 1-800-852-5770.

More food options: Find free food and food help.

Can my child get health care?

Yes, through Medi-Cal. DHCS says that regardless of immigration status, a child under 19 can still apply for full Medi-Cal, with full dental, per its immigration status page (modified October 14, 2026). The 2026 enrollment freeze for undocumented adults does not apply to children.

What changes on January 1, 2027. Children with what DHCS calls "unsatisfactory immigration status" (including undocumented children) move from Medi-Cal plans to Fee for Service. That means you use providers who take regular Medi-Cal directly, not a plan card. DHCS's chart shows children keep full Medi-Cal and full dental in July 2027, and do not pay a premium. Adults are different. See Medi-Cal for adults in 2026.

How to apply: online at BenefitsCal, by phone, or at your county office. Questions: Medi-Cal Help Line 1-800-541-5555.

At school, your child may also get:

• Vision checks. California schools check vision in kindergarten or first enrollment, and in grades 2, 5 and 8 (Education Code 49455).
• A dental check form. Kindergartners (or first graders new to public school) need an oral health assessment by May 31. Parents can be excused for cost, no access to a dentist, or not wanting one (Education Code 49452.8). Some schools host free dental check events. Medi-Cal covers dental care for children.
• Counseling and mental health support. Ask the school counselor. California also offers free coaching for families with kids 0 to 12 (BrightLife Kids) and for teens and young adults 13 to 25 (Soluna), regardless of insurance or status, per DHCS. See Mental health help for children in California.

If your child is in crisis, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. If anyone is in danger right now, call 911.

What else is free at school?

• School supplies and activities. California public schools may not charge fees for educational activities. Required supplies must be free, and donations are voluntary. A child cannot lose credit or privileges because the family did not donate (Education Code 49011).
• English learner support. See Help for newcomer and English learner students.
• Special education. Free testing and services for children with disabilities. See How to get special education services for your child.

What if we don't have a stable place to live?

If your family is staying with others because you lost housing, living in a car, shelter, motel or similar place, your child may qualify under the federal McKinney Vento law. Children can enroll right away, even without records or after deadlines, and every district has a homeless liaison who can help with school supplies, transportation and other services (42 U.S.C. 11432). Ask the school office for the homeless liaison. It has nothing to do with immigration status.

Will using these hurt our immigration case?

For most families, school meals and school services are not something to fear. Here is what we know.

• Public charge applies only to some immigrants, such as many people applying for a green card. It does not apply to most immigrants already in the U.S., per the California Health and Human Services Agency. It does not apply to DACA, TPS or citizenship applications.
• New federal guidance took effect September 18, 2026. For applications filed from that date, USCIS may consider any means tested public benefit an applicant applied for or received, per the USCIS Policy Manual.
• Your child's benefits are not treated as your own. CHHS says benefits used by your children are not counted as benefits you received, but officials can look at them. USCIS may weigh a child's benefit that was based on the parent's low income as part of the money review, per the Policy Manual.
• SUN Bucks: CDSS says it does not affect a family's immigration status.
• School meals, vision and dental checks, and special education are part of public schooling for every child. The USCIS public charge chapter does not name them. Ask a free legal clinic how your family's benefits could be viewed.

Before you stop any benefit for your child, talk to a free legal clinic. Stopping health care or food can hurt your child, and it may not help your case. See Public charge and benefits: the complete guide.

Will the school share our information?

California schools may not collect immigration status except as the law requires (Education Code 234.7). They may not share student or family information with immigration officers without a judicial warrant, judicial subpoena or court order, per the Attorney General's guidance.

Medical information you give a health provider, including immigration status and place of birth, is protected medical information under California law (Civil Code 56.05).

Questions people ask

Do I need to fill out a form for free lunch? No. Every student can eat for free. The school may still ask you to fill out a form for funding.

My child is a citizen and I am undocumented. Can they get CalFresh? Yes, you can apply for your citizen child, per CalFresh. Only eligible members are counted for benefits.

Can my teen get Medi-Cal without me? Children under 19 can apply. Ask your county about how a teen applies.

Is Covered California an option? Not for undocumented people or DACA recipients. Covered California says DACA recipients have not been able to enroll since an August 2025 federal rule change. Medi-Cal is still open to children.

I live outside California. Free meals for every student, Medi-Cal for all children and SUN Bucks rules on this page are California's. Federal McKinney Vento rights apply everywhere. Ask your school district.

Who can help?

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Medi-Cal Help Line (statewide): 1-800-541-5555.
• SUN Bucks Helpline (statewide): 1-877-328-9677.
• California WIC (statewide): 1-800-852-5770, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., per California WIC.
• San Mateo County CalFresh (San Mateo County): 1-800-223-8383, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., per the county.
• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (public charge questions; low income residents of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties): (650) 326-6440, per CLSEPA.
• 211 (some California counties, not all): free help finding local services. See 211: free help finding local services.