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Free and Reduced Meals
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Free or Reduced Price Meals are available to families who believe they may qualify. To apply, please complete an online Free or Reduced Price Meal Application here or complete a paper application. Once the completed application is submitted and processed, you will be notified via email or mail of your child's status. Until notification, you must provide your child with a lunch or lunch money.
HOUSEHOLD APPLICATIONS
The household size and income criteria identified here will be used to determine eligibility for free or reduced price benefits for school year 2022-2023. Children from households whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or reduced price meals.
Household application forms are being distributed by the school with a letter informing households of the availability of free and reduced price meals for their children. Only one application should be submitted for each household. Paper applications are also available at the principal’s office in each school. To apply for free or reduced price meals, households must complete the online application or the paper application and return it to the school. Applications will be considered incomplete if all information is not provided as described in the instructions provided with the application. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year as circumstances change. The information households provide on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and verification of data.
Applications may be subject to verification at any time during the school year by school officials.
CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY
Children who are members of a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly food stamps, household are categorically eligible for free meals. School officials will determine eligibility for free meals based on documentation obtained directly from the SNAP office. School officials will notify households of their eligibility. Households who are notified of their eligibility but who do not want their children to receive free meals must contact the school. SNAP households should complete an application if they are not notified of their eligibility by September 30, 2022.
Households with children who are members of currently approved Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly food stamps, may submit an application with abbreviated information as described in the application instructions.
Children certified as migrant, homeless or runaway by the district are categorically eligible for free meals.
Foster children who are the legal responsibility of a welfare agency or court are also eligible for benefits regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside. Eligibility for the foster child is based on the child being the legal responsibility of welfare agency or court. An application for a household that includes both foster children and non-foster must be completed for eligibility to be determined for the non-foster children.
Children in households that receive WIC may be eligible for benefits. An application must be completed for determination of eligibility.
If a household member becomes unemployed during the school year, the household may be eligible for free or reduced price meals PROVIDED that the loss of income causes the household income to be within the eligibility criteria. An application should be completed for determination of eligibility benefits.
A household may SUBMIT an application ANYTIME DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
Frequently Asked Questions: Free/Reduced Meals
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We are in the military. Do we include our housing allowance as income? What if my spouse is deployed?
If you get an off-base housing allowance, it must be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income.
If your spouse is deployed and receives combat pay, the combat pay is not counted as income, as long as the combat pay is received in addition to the basic pay for deployment and it wasn’t received before the deployment. Contact your child’s school for more information.
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What if my income is not always the same?
List the amount that you normally get. For example, if you normally get $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only got $900, put down that you get $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get it only sometimes. If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.
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Who should I include as members of my household?
You must include all people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends) who share income and expenses. You must include yourself and all children who live with you. If you live with other people who are economically independent (for example, people whom you do not support, who do not share income with you or your children, and who pay a pro-rated share of expenses), do not include them.
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May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?
Yes. You or your child(ren) do not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for free or reduced price meals.
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Will the information I give be checked? What if I disagree with the school's decision about my application?
Yes, we may ask you to send written proof or verification.
You also may talk to school officials and ask for a hearing to have the decision reviewed.
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If I don't qualify now, may I apply later?
Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free or reduced price meals if the household income drops below the income limit on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.
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What if I got a letter already this school year saying my children are approved for free/reduced meals?
Please carefully read the letter you got and follow the instructions. Call your child’s school if you have questions.
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My child's application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out another one this year?
Yes. Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year. You must send in a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for free meals for the new school year.
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I get WIC. Can my children get free meals?
Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals. Please fill out an application.
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Who can get reduced price meals?
Your children can get low cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Chart, shown on this application.
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Can homeless, runaway, and migrant children get free meals?
Yes, children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway or migrant qualify for free meals. If you haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please call or e-mail your child’s school to see if they qualify.
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Can Foster Children get free meals?
Yes, foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals. Any foster child in the household is eligible for free meals regardless of income.
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Who can get free meals?
All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP Benefits) (formerly the Food Stamp Program) can get free meals regardless of your income. Also, your children can get free meals if your household gross income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.
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Do I need to fill out an application for each child?
No. You can use one Free and Reduced School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all the required information. Return the completed application to your child's school.
