The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) reimburses participating childcare centers, family day care homes, and at-risk afterschool programs for the meals and snacks they serve to eligible children. Rates are updated annually each July by the USDA based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for food.
Below are the current center reimbursement rates and a plain- English breakdown of how the program pays out. If you run a NYC childcare center, these are the numbers that determine how much federal funding flows back to your operation each month.
Center Reimbursement Rates (July 2025 – June 2026)
For childcare centers participating in CACFP, reimbursement is paid per meal, per child, based on the child's eligibility category. A center serving breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack to 40 free-eligible children every weekday can generate roughly $7,000 in monthly federal reimbursement before any cash-in-lieu of commodities adjustment.
| Meal Type | Free | Reduced-Price | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | $2.46 | $2.16 | $0.40 |
| Lunch / Supper | $4.60 | $4.20 | $0.44 |
| Snack | $1.26 | $0.63 | $0.11 |
Rates effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
Free / Reduced-Price / Paid: How Eligibility Works
Each enrolled child falls into one of three reimbursement categories, determined by household income relative to federal poverty guidelines:
- Free — Household income at or below 130% of the federal poverty guideline. The center is reimbursed at the free rate for every meal served to this child.
- Reduced-Price — Household income between 130% and 185% of the federal poverty guideline. Reimbursed at the reduced-price rate.
- Paid — Household income above 185% of the federal poverty guideline. Reimbursed at the paid rate (significantly lower).
Eligibility is determined annually through household income applications collected at enrollment. Many NYC childcare programs serving low-income families have 80%+ free-eligible enrollment, which is why CACFP can be such a meaningful funding source.
Family Day Care Home Rates
Family Day Care Homes (FDCHs) — small, home-based programs caring for up to 8 children — are reimbursed under a different tier system:
- Tier I FDCHs — Homes located in lower-income areas, or where the provider's own household income qualifies. Reimbursed at higher per-meal rates.
- Tier II FDCHs — Homes that don't meet Tier I criteria. Reimbursed at lower base rates, with the option to elect higher rates only for children whose households qualify.
For current FDCH-specific rate tables, see the USDA reimbursement rates page. The rates update each July alongside the center rates.
At-Risk Afterschool Program Rates
At-Risk Afterschool meals and snacks are reimbursed at the free rate regardless of household income, as long as the program operates in an eligible area. This is one of the most underutilized CACFP funding streams in NYC.
A NYC afterschool program serving an afternoon snack and supper to 30 children five days a week qualifies for roughly $3,500 per month in federal reimbursement, regardless of any individual child's family income, provided it meets the area eligibility requirement.
Cash-in-Lieu of Commodities
On top of the per-meal rates above, centers receive an additional cash payment for each lunch and supper served. This replaces the commodity foods that were historically distributed to participating programs. The cash-in-lieu rate is published separately by USDA and adjusted annually.
Snack and breakfast reimbursements do not receive a separate cash-in-lieu payment. Lunch and supper do.
A Real-World Math Example
A NYC daycare with 50 enrolled children, 80% free-eligible, serving breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack five days a week, 22 operating days per month:
- Free children: 40 × $2.46 (B) + $4.60 (L) + $1.26 (S) = $332.80/day → ~$7,322/month
- Paid children: 10 × $0.40 (B) + $0.44 (L) + $0.11 (S) = $9.50/day → ~$209/month
- Estimated monthly federal reimbursement: ~$7,531 before cash-in-lieu of commodities
For most NYC childcare centers, CACFP reimbursement covers 100% of food costs and contributes meaningfully to overhead. But only if every meal served is documented correctly and claimed accurately — which is where most centers leave money on the table.
How Rates Are Updated
CACFP reimbursement rates are adjusted annually by USDA based on changes in the food-at-home Consumer Price Index. The new rates are published in the Federal Register each spring and take effect on July 1 of each year. They apply through June 30 of the following year — the federal program year.
Planning for the next program year? See our CACFP Reimbursement Rates 2026-2027 page → for upcoming-year guidance. Confirmed figures will be posted there as soon as USDA publishes them.
Common Reimbursement Mistakes That Cost Centers Money
- Outdated eligibility data — Forgetting to re-collect household income forms annually, causing children to be claimed in the wrong category.
- Missing meal components — A meal that doesn't meet the CACFP meal pattern can't be claimed at all, even if it was served and recorded.
- Meal count / attendance mismatches — The single most common audit finding. Meals claimed for children not actually present that day.
- Production records that don't back up the menu — Auditors compare what was claimed, what was on the menu, and what production records show was actually prepared. Discrepancies result in disallowed meals.
- Late claim submission — Sponsors have deadlines (usually 60 days). Late claims are flat-out denied.