Microsoft Cetified Partner

Frequently Asked Questions

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Who can get free meals?
Who can receive reduced meals?
Can homeless, runaway, and migrant students receive Free and Reduced meals?
I receive WIC benefits. Do my children qualify for Free and Reduced meals?
If I do not qualify may I reapply again during the same school year?
I disagree with the schools decision about my benefits, what do I do?
How secure is my online application transaction?
How long after I apply will the status be determined?
Do I need to fill out an application for each child?
Why have I not received my confirmation e-mail?
Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this school year from my children's school stating they qualified for Free and Reduced price meal benefits?
Will the information I provide in this process be verified?
Do all of the members of my household have to be U.S. citizens to apply for Free and Reduced meal pricing benefits?
Who should be included when determining my household size or listing the members of my household?
What if my income fluctuates and is not always the same amount?
My family is a military dependent family; do we include our housing allowance as income?


Benefits

Q: Who can get free meals?
A: Children living in households whose monthly income falls within the Income Guidelines released by the USDA for free meals. Children who are receiving SNAP (Food Stamps), TANF, FDPIR, and most Foster children can receive free priced meals.
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Q: Who can receive reduced meals?
A: Children living in households whose monthly income falls within the Income Guidelines released by the USDA for reduced meals.
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Q: Can homeless, runaway, and migrant students receive Free and Reduced meals?
A: Not necessarily; determination of benefits are based on income. Children living in households whose monthly income falls within the Income Guidelines released by the USDA for free and reduced meals, can receive free priced meals. Please fill out an application.
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Q: I receive WIC benefits. Do my children qualify for Free and Reduced meals?
A: Not necessarily; determination of benefits are based on income. Children living in families whose monthly income falls within the Income Guidelines released by the USDA for free and reduced meals, can receive free priced meals. Please fill out an application.
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Q: If I do not qualify may I reapply again during the same school year?
A: Yes. If at anytime during the current school year the monthly income for your family changes or the size of your household changes you may reapply.
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General

Q: I disagree with the schools decision about my benefits, what do I do?
A: You should contact your children's school to find out what their procedures are for disputing the claim.
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Security

Q: How secure is my online application transaction?
A: Highest... 128 bit encryption
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Applications

Q: How long after I apply will the status be determined?
A: The information is forwarded to the school district before your confirmation is sent. Please contact your student's school to determine when the benefits should start.
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Q: Do I need to fill out an application for each child?
A: No. An application can be filled out for all of the students in your household unless one or more of the students are Foster children. They should be submitted on an application by themselves. Please be sure that the application is complete; it can not be approved until it is complete
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Q: Why have I not received my confirmation e-mail?
A: The most common reason for not receiving your confirmation email is an incorrect email address. Most email addresses are long and not intuitive to type, resulting in possible errors.

Another possible reason is that your Internet Service Provider has mistakenly blocked the confirmation email, confusing it with spam.
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Q: Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this school year from my children's school stating they qualified for Free and Reduced price meal benefits?
A: Please read the letter carefully and follow the instructions contained in the letter. If you have any further questions please contact your child's school for more information.
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Q: Will the information I provide in this process be verified?
A: Yes, the information may be verified and you may be asked to send written proof of any or all of the information you provided.
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Q: Do all of the members of my household have to be U.S. citizens to apply for Free and Reduced meal pricing benefits?
A: No. Neither you nor your children have to be U.S. citizens to receive Free and Reduced price meals.
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Q: Who should be included when determining my household size or listing the members of my household?
A: You must include all of the people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relative, or friends). You must include yourself and all children who live with you.
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Q: What if my income fluctuates and is not always the same amount?
A: List the amount received most often.
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Q: My family is a military dependent family; do we include our housing allowance as income?
A: Military benefits received in cash, such as housing allowances for military households, Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) and food or clothing allowances, must be considered as income. An in-kind benefit where the household receives no cash is not counted.
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