Free and Reduced Meal Application FAQs
Applications Completion Tips
What measures can I take to expedite my free and reduced price applications approval?
Use BLACK ink Print Clearly Use your student’s name as it appears on their Birth Certificate List student’s date of birth, grade, and school List student’s income or mark the “no income box” If applicable list 8 or 9 digit Food Stamp, SNAP or TANF number List all Other Household Members and their income and how often money is received. If there’s no income mark the “no income box” Fill in last 4 numbers of Social Security Number of the signer or mark “NONE” SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED for the signer Foster Child(ren) may be included with foster family application. Please mark appropriate box. Please list the child’s “personal use” money or mark the “no income” box List total household members in correct area
ALL APPLICATIONS MUST HAVE THE ABOVE INFORMATION LISTED OR IT WILL BE RETURNED TO APPLICANT!
Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No. Complete one application for all students in your household. You must reapply every school year. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to the Student Nutrition Office, School Cafeteria Manager or mail (14705 Woodforest Blvd., Houston, Tx 77015).
Who can receive free meals? There are several ways that your child(ren) may be eligible for meals free of charge: Your child may get free meals if your household income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Guidelines.
Another way is through “categorically eligibility”. If one member of your household is currently receiving assistance (benefits) from one of the following Programs: Food Stamps, TANF, SNAP or FDPIR all children in the household are eligible for free meals. (Remember, a household is defined as “a group of related or non-related individuals, who are not residents of an institution or boarding house, but who are living as one economic unit).” Direct Certification Letters are sent by the Student Nutrition department to the homes of these pre- approved students.
Can homeless, runaway and migrant children get free meals? Yes. Other categorically eligible children are those who meet the definition of “migrant, homeless, or runaway”, or who are enrolled in a federally-funded Head Start Center. If you are homeless, runaway, or migrant child, please contact the Homeless (832-386-1030) or Migrant (832-386-3641) coordinators. [We usually receive documentation for these children from official sources, but if you know of any, please contact Student Nutrition Service Office at 832-386-1211, or 832-386-1422.]
I received a letter saying my children are approved for free or reduced-price meals for this school year. Should I fill out an application? All meal applications MUST be renewed every new school year. Please carefully read the letter you received and follow the instructions. Call the Student Nutrition Services Dept. at 832-386-1211 or 832-386-1422 if you have questions. If you received a letter of the current school year, then NO, you do not need to fill out a new application. (Just make sure that all of your students are listed on the letter as being eligible.)
Who can receive Reduced-priced meals? Your child may receive low cost meals if your household income is within the reduced-price limits on the Eligibility Guidelines. Please fill out an application and return to the School Cafeteria or Student Nutrition Services Dept. office.
I receive WIC (Women, Infants and Children) benefits. Can my child get free meals? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduce-price meals. Please fill out an meal application.
Will the information I give be checked? Yes, we may ask you to send written proof of the information you give. 3% of all applications approved will be verified.
If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? You may apply at any time during the current school year.
What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application? If you don’t agree with the District’s decision regarding your application or the result of verification, you may discuss it the Student Nutrition Department by calling 832-386-1211 or 832-386-1422. You also have the right to a fair hearing. A fair hearing may be requested by calling or writing John Moore, 14705 Woodforest Blvd., Houston, Tx 77015, 832-386-1000.
May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? You or your child does not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify your child to receive free or reduced-price meals.
Who should I include as members of my household? Include yourself, all children (school age and younger) who live with you and all other people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends). Be sure to include any income they receive.
What if my income is not always the same? Please contact the Student Nutrition Services Dept for further instructions. Normally you will list the amount that you receive BEFORE deductions. For example, if you normally receive $1,ooo each month, but you missed some work last month and only got $900, put down that you get $1,000 per month. If you are paid for overtime, include it, but not if you receive it occasionally. If your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. All other allowances must be included in your gross income.
What income do I include? All household members’ gross income must be listed from all jobs. Gross income is not the same as take home pay. Gross income is the amount earned before taxes and deductions. It should be listed on your check or your boss can tell you. Income includes monthly wages, tips before taxes, welfare, child support, alimony, pensions, retirement, Social Security, Worker’s Compensation, unemployment benefits, strike benefits, Supplemental Security Income, Veteran’s benefits (VA benefits), disability benefits, regular contributions from people who do not live in your household and ANY OTHER INCOME. Report net income for self-owned business, farm or rental income. Please list how often you receive this income; monthly (M), weekly (W), twice monthly (2M) or every two weeks (2W).
Are applications available in other languages? Applications are available in English and Spanish. Applications are also be available in other languages, if needed.
Why is it necessary to use the same name as it appears on the Birth Certificate? Galena Park I.S.D. uses the birth date and name information from the Birth Certificate for all school records. The only way the application can be validated is by using the same information. Clearly, nicknames and family abbreviations will slow down the application approval process.
Why do you list All Other Household Members? The consideration for approval of an application is based on income and the number of household members. Therefore, it is required to list all member of the household.
Why do I need to fill out Social Security Number and sign the application? These two sections are required fields and it is very important that these sections be completed. If this information is not complete, the application will be incomplete and returned to the applicant.
If I have more than one student going to school at Galena Park do I need to fill out more than one application? No, only complete ONE APPLICATION PER FAMILY.
If I have a student living at home that goes to a private school, charter school or Pre- K school, should I include them on the application? Yes, include them as Other Household Members at the bottom section of application and any income they receive.
What are the prices for breakfast and lunch? Elementary and Secondary Student Breakfast is no charge to all students. Elementary Lunch is $1.45, Secondary Lunch price is $1.65 Reduced-price lunch is 40 cents, and Teacher Lunch is $2.35 Milk prices are 8 oz. 40 cents and 11 oz. 55 cents
If you think your child qualifies for reduced-price meals please complete a meal application and submit it to the Student Nutrition Services Dept. or your child’s cafeteria.
When will my student’s application be approved? Please allow 10 working days for students who didn’t attend Galena Park schools last school year. You will need to send money until your student’s application is approved. Those students who attended school at Galena Park last school year and were approved for free or reduced-price meals will have the same eligibility ONLY for the first 30 days of school. You must re-apply in order to receive meal benefits after the first 30 days.
How do I pay for my student’s meals? You need to send money with your child for the first few days of school You may also pre-pay your child’s meals using an online payment system. Please visit our website for the link. We also accept cash or checks. If paying with a check, make payable to Student Nutrition.
Direct Certification
What is Direct Certification? Under direct certification, school districts use information from Texas Health and Human Services to certify children to receive free meals. To qualify, the children’s families must receive assistance from Food Stamps, TANF, SNAP, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations or other qualified Federal/State programs.
How do you know if your Student is Direct Certified? Direct Certification Letters are sent to the homes of pre-approved students.
If one student is Direct Certified, in a household, are the remaining students also Direct Certified? Yes. If the letter you received doesn’t have all your children listed, please call the Student Nutrition Services Dept. at 832-386-1211 or 832-386-1422.
PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT: This explains how we will use the information you give us. The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires the information on this application. You do not have to give the information, but if you do not, we cannot approve your child for free or reduced price meals. You must include the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application. The social security number is not required when you apply on behalf of a foster child or you list a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) case number or other FDPIR identifier for your child or when you indicate that the adult household member signing the application does not have a social security number. We will use your information to determine if your child is eligible for free or reduced price meals, and for administration and enforcement of the lunch and breakfast programs. We MAY share you eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program review, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of programs rules.
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT: The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identify, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter contain all of the information requested in the form. Send your complain form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, by fax (202)690-7442 or email at [email protected] Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800)0845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.