Free And Reduced Meal Application FAQs

Free and Reduced Meal Application FAQsApplications Completion TipsWhat measures can I take to expedite my free and reduced price applicationsapproval?Use BLACK inkPrint ClearlyUse your student’s name as it appears on their Birth CertificateList student’s date of birth, grade, and schoolList student’s income or mark the “no income box”If applicable list 8 or 9 digit Food Stamp, SNAP or TANF numberList all Other Household Members and their income and how often money isreceived. 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 signerFoster Child(ren) may be included with foster family application. Please markappropriate box.Please list the child’s “personal use” money or mark the “no income” boxList total household members in correct areaALL APPLICATIONS MUST HAVE THE ABOVE INFORMATION LISTED OR IT WILL BERETURNED 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 everyschool year. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out allrequired 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: Yourchild may get free meals if your household income is within the free limits on the FederalIncome Guidelines.Another way is through “categorically eligibility”. If one member of your household iscurrently 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, ahousehold is defined as “a group of related or non-related individuals, who are not residentsof an institution or boarding house, but who are living as one economic unit).” DirectCertification Letters are sent by the Student Nutrition department to the homes of these preapproved 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 youare homeless, runaway, or migrant child, please contact the Homeless (832-386-1030) orMigrant (832-386-3641) coordinators. [We usually receive documentation for these childrenfrom official sources, but if you know of any, please contact Student Nutrition Service Officeat 832-386-1211, or 832-386-1422.]I received a letter saying my children are approved for free or reduced-price mealsfor this school year. Should I fill out an application?All meal applications MUST be renewed every new school year. Please carefully read theletter you received and follow the instructions. Call the Student Nutrition Services Dept. at832-386-1211 or 832-386-1422 if you have questions. If you received a letter of the currentschool year, then NO, you do not need to fill out a new application. (Just make sure that all ofyour 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-pricelimits on the Eligibility Guidelines. Please fill out an application and return to the SchoolCafeteria 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 applicationsapproved 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 ofverification, you may discuss it the Student Nutrition Department by calling 832-386-1211 or832-386-1422. You also have the right to a fair hearing. A fair hearing may be requested bycalling 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 orreduced-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 peopleliving in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends). Besure 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 willlist 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 thatyou get 1,000 per month. If you are paid for overtime, include it, but not if you receive itoccasionally. If your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do notinclude your housing allowance as income. All other allowances must be included in yourgross income.What income do I include?All household members’ gross income must be listed from all jobs. Gross income is not thesame as take home pay. Gross income is the amount earned before taxes and deductions. Itshould be listed on your check or your boss can tell you. Income includes monthly wages, tipsbefore taxes, welfare, child support, alimony, pensions, retirement, Social Security, Worker’sCompensation, unemployment benefits, strike benefits, Supplemental Security Income,Veteran’s benefits (VA benefits), disability benefits, regular contributions from people who donot live in your household and ANY OTHER INCOME. Report net income for self-ownedbusiness, 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 otherlanguages, 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 allschool records. The only way the application can be validated is by using the sameinformation. Clearly, nicknames and family abbreviations will slow down the applicationapproval process.Why do you list All Other Household Members?The consideration for approval of an application is based on income and the number ofhousehold 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 becompleted. If this information is not complete, the application will be incomplete andreturned to the applicant.If I have more than one student going to school at Galena Park do I need to fill outmore 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 PreK school, should I include them on the application?Yes, include them as Other Household Members at the bottom section of application and anyincome 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, andTeacher Lunch is 2.35Milk prices are 8 oz. 40 cents and 11 oz. 55 centsIf you think your child qualifies for reduced-price meals please complete a meal applicationand 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 schoolyear. You will need to send money until your student’s application is approved. Thosestudents who attended school at Galena Park last school year and were approved for free orreduced-price meals will have the same eligibility ONLY for the first 30 days of school. Youmust 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-payyour 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 CertificationWhat is Direct Certification?Under direct certification, school districts use information from Texas Health and HumanServices to certify children to receive free meals. To qualify, the children’s families mustreceive assistance from Food Stamps, TANF, SNAP, Food Distribution Program on IndianReservations 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 alsoDirect Certified?Yes. If the letter you received doesn’t have all your children listed, please call the StudentNutrition Services Dept. at 832-386-1211 or 832-386-1422.