Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No. Only one Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application is needed for all the students in your household. It is unnecessary to fill out an application for each child. Please ensure that your family’s application is complete and correct; incomplete or incorrect applications cannot be processed.
Who can get free meals? Children in households receiving Food and Nutrition Services (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations or TANF/Work First) can get free meals regardless of your income. Children may also be eligible for free meals if your household gross income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Guidelines.
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.
Can homeless, runaway, and migrant children get free meals? Yes. Contact your school’s McKinney Vento liaison or contact Tonya Reid at 704-832-2549
Who can get reduced price meals? Children can get low-cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Eligibility Income Chart.
My child’s application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out another application this year? Yes. Your child’s application is only good for one school year. You must send in a new application for this school year.
I get WIC. Can my child get free meals? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals. Please fill out an application.
Will the information I provide be verified? Yes. Written proof may also be requested.
If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? Yes. You may apply at anytime during the school year.
What if I disagree with the decision about my application? You may contact the district’s child nutrition officials or make a request in writing for a hearing to Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ron Hargrave.
May I apply if someone in my house is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You or your children do not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for free or reduced meals.
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). You must include yourself and all children who live with you, including foster children.
What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally get $1,000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only received $900, put down $1,000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get it only sometimes.
We are in the military. Do we include our housing allowance as income? 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.
My spouse is deployed to a combat zone. Is his/her combat pay counted as income? No. If the combat pay is received in addition to his/her basic pay because of deployment, and was not received before deployment, combat pay is not included as income.
