How To Apply For Free and Reduced Price School Meals

HOW TO APPLY FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICE SCHOOL MEALS
Please use these instructions to help you fill out the application for free or reduced price school meals. You only need to submit one application per household,
even if your children attend more than one school in [School District]. The application must be filled out completely to certify your children for free or reduced
price school meals. Please follow these instructions in order! Each step of the instructions is the same as the steps on your application. If at any time you are not
sure what to do next, please contact [School/school district contact here; phone and email preferred].
STEP 1: LIST ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS WHO ARE INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND STUDENTS UP TO AND INCLUDING GRADE
12
Tell us how many infants, children, and school students live in your household. They do NOT have to be related to you to be a part of your household.
Who should I list here? When filling out this section, please include ALL members in your household who are:
 Children age 18 or under AND are supported with the household’s income;
 In your care under a foster arrangement, or qualify as homeless, migrant, or runaway youth;
 Students attending [school/school system here], regardless of age.
A) List each child’s name. Print each child’s B) Is the child a student at C) Do you have any foster children? If any D) Are any children homeless,
name. Use one line of the application for [name of school/school system children listed are foster children, mark the migrant, or runaway? If you believe
each child. When printing names, write one here]? Mark ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ under “Foster Child” box next to the child’s name. If you any child listed in this section meets
letter in each box. Stop if you run out of the column titled “Student” to are ONLY applying for foster children, after this description, mark the “Homeless,
space. If there are more children present tell us which children attend finishing STEP 1, go to STEP 4. Migrant, Runaway” box next to the
than lines on the application, attach a second [name of school/school district Foster children who live with you may count as child’s name and complete all steps of
piece of paper with all required information here]. If you marked ‘Yes,’ write members of your household and should be listed the application.
for the additional children. the grade level of the student in on your application. If you are applying for both
the ‘Grade’ column to the right. foster and non-foster children, go to step 3.
PLEASE USE A PEN (NOT A PENCIL) WHEN FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION AND DO YOUR BEST TO PRINT CLEARLY.
STEP 2: DO ANY HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS CURRENTLY PARTICIPATE IN SNAP, TANF, OR FDPIR?

If anyone in your household (including you) currently participates in one or more of the assistance programs listed below, your children are eligible for free school meals:
 The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or [insert State SNAP here].
 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or [insert State TANF here].
 The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).
A) If no one in your household participates in any of the above B) If anyone in your household participates in any of the above listed programs:
listed programs:  Write a case number for SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR. You only need to provide one case number. If you participate
 Leave STEP 2 blank and go to STEP 3. in one of these programs and do not know your case number, contact: [State/local agency contacts here].
 Go to STEP 4.
STEP 3: REPORT INCOME FOR ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS
How do I report my income?
 Use the charts titled “Sources of Income for Adults” and “Sources of Income for Children,” printed on the back side of the application form to determine if your household has
income to report.
 Report all amounts in GROSS INCOME ONLY. Report all income in whole dollars. Do not include cents.
o Gross income is the total income received before taxes.
o Many people think of income as the amount they “take home” and not the total, “gross” amount. Make sure that the income you report on this application has NOT been
reduced to pay for taxes, insurance premiums, or any other amounts taken from your pay.
 Write a “0” in any fields where there is no income to report. Any income fields left empty or blank will also be counted as a zero. If you write ‘0’ or leave any fields blank, you are
certifying (promising) that there is no income to report. If local officials suspect that your household income was reported incorrectly, your application will be investigated.
 Mark how often each type of income is received using the check boxes to the right of each field.
3.A. REPORT INCOME EARNED BY CHILDREN
A) Report all income earned or received by children. Report the combined gross income for ALL children listed in STEP 1 in your household in the box marked “Child Income.” Only
count foster children’s income if you are applying for them together with the rest of your household.
What is Child Income? Child income is money received from outside your household that is paid DIRECTLY to your children. Many households do not have any child income.
3.B REPORT INCOME EARNED BY ADULTS
Who should I list here?
 When filling out this section, please include ALL adult members in your household who are living with you and share income and expenses, even if they are not related and even
if they do not receive income of their own.
 Do NOT include:
o People who live with you but are not supported by your household’s income AND do not contribute income to your household.
o Infants, Children and students already listed in STEP 1.
B) List adult household members’ C) Report earnings from work. Report all income from work in the D) Report income from public assistance/child
names. Print the name of each “Earnings from Work” field on the application. This is usually the support/alimony. Report all income that applies in the “Public
household member in the boxes marked money received from working at jobs. If you are a self-employed Assistance/Child Support/Alimony” field on the application. Do
“Names of Adult Household Members business or farm owner, you will report your net income. not report the cash value of any public assistance benefits NOT
(First and Last).” Do not list any listed on the chart. If income is received from child support or
household members you listed in STEP 1. What if I am self-employed? Report income from that work as a net alimony, only report court-ordered payments. Informal but
If a child listed in STEP 1 has income, amount. This is calculated by subtracting the total operating regular payments should be reported as “other” income in the
follow the instructions in STEP 3, part A. expenses of your business from its gross receipts or revenue. next part.
E) Report income from F) Report total household size. Enter the total number of household G) Provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
pensions/retirement/all other income. members in the field “Total Household Members (Children and An adult household member must enter the last four digits of
Report all income that applies in the Adults).” This number MUST be equal to the number of household their Social Security Number in the space provided. You are
“Pensions/Retirement/ All Other members listed in STEP 1 and STEP 3. If there are any members of eligible to apply for benefits even if you do not have a Social
Income” field on the application. your household that you have not listed on the application, go back Security Number. If no adult household members have a Social
and add them. It is very important to list all household members, as Security Number, leave this space blank and mark the box to the
the size of your household affects your eligibility for free and right labeled “Check if no SSN.”
reduced price meals.
STEP 4: CONTACT INFORMATION AND ADULT SIGNATURE

All applications must be signed by an adult member of the household. By signing the application, that household member is promising that all information has been truthfully
and completely reported. Before completing this section, please also make sure you have read the privacy and civil rights statements on the back of the application.
A) Provide your contact information. Write your current B) Print and sign your name and C) Mail Completed D) Share children’s racial and ethnic identities
address in the fields provided if this information is available. write today’s date. Print the name Form to: Insert (optional). On the back of the application, we ask you
If you have no permanent address, this does not make your of the adult signing the application School/District to share information about your children’s race and
children ineligible for free or reduced price school meals. and that person signs in the box address here ethnicity. This field is optional and does not affect your
Sharing a phone number, email address, or both is optional, “Signature of adult.” children’s eligibility for free or reduced price school
but helps us reach you quickly if we need to contact you. meals.

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HOW TO APPLY FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICE SCHOOL MEALS

STEP 2: DO ANY HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS CURRENTLY PARTICIPATE IN SNAP, TANF, OR FDPIR?

STEP 4: CONTACT INFORMATION AND ADULT SIGNATURE

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