Dear Parent/Guardian:

 

Children need healthy meals to learn. The Reedsville Public School offers healthy meals every school day. Lunch costs $1.85 for K-5 and $2.20 for 6-12. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Reduced price is $.40 for lunch.

1.              Do I need to fill out an application for each child?  No. Complete the application to apply for free or reduced price meals. Use one Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to: Janice Zahorik, PO Box 340, Reedsville, WI 54230

2.              Who can get free meals? All children in households receiving benefits from FoodShare, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or W-2 Cash Benefits, can get free meals regardless of your income. Also, your children can get free meals if your household’s gross income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.

3.              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.

4.              Can homeless, runaway, and migrant children get free meals? Yes, children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant qualify for free meals.  If you haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please call or e-mail Janice Zahorik, 920-754-4345, jzahorik@reedsville.k12.wi.us to see if they qualify. 

5.              WHO CAN GET REDUCED PRICE MEALS?  Your children can get low cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines, shown on this application.  

6.              SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE APPROVED FOR FREE MEALS?  Please read the letter carefully and follow the instructions.  Call the school at 920-754-4345 if you have questions.  

7.              MY CHILD’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR.  DO I NEED TO FILL OUT ANOTHER ONE?  Yes.  Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year.  You must send in a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year. 

8.              I GET WIC.  CAN MY CHILD(REN) GET FREE MEALS?  Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals.  Please fill out an application.

9.         Will the information I give be checked? Yes and we may also ask you to send written proof.

10.       If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year.  For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.

11.                         What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application? You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: Dennis Raabe, PO Box 340, Reedsville, WI 54230-Phone 754-4341 – E-mail draabe@reedsville.k12.wi.us.

12.                         May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You or your child(ren) do not have to be U.S. citizens to qualify for free or reduced price meals. 

13.                         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) who share income and expenses. You must include yourself and all children living with you.  If you live with other people who are economically independent (for example, people who you do not support, who do not share income with you or your children, and who pay a pro-rated share of expenses), do not include them.

14.                         What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1000 per month.  If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes.  If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.

15.           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.

16.           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 his/her deployment and it wasn’t received before s/he was deployed, combat pay is not counted as income.  Contact your school for more information.

17.           My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for? To find out how to apply for FoodShare or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call 1-800-362-3002.

If you have other questions or need help, call 920-754-4345.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING

Part 1: All Household Members (a household member is any child or adult living with you): All applicants should complete this part. List the name of each household member, the name of the school each child attends, and the child’s grade. If the child is a foster child, check the box for foster child. If a household member has no income, check the box for no income. All household members, including foster children, should be included here. If you need additional space, attach a separate piece of paper.

If anyone in your household receives benefits from FoodShare, W-2 Cash Benefits, or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), follow these instructions.

Part 2: List the case number for one household member (adult or child) who receives FoodShare or W-2 Cash Benefits or FDPIR benefits.

Part 3: Skip this part.

Part 4: Skip this part.

Part 5: Sign the form. You do not need to provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

Part 6: This question is optional. You can choose whether or not to provide ethnic and racial data.

If you are applying for a child who is homeless, a migrant or runaway, follow these instructions.

Part 2: Skip this part.

Part 3: Check the appropriate category and call Janice Zahorik at the Reedsville Elementary School. 

Part 4: Skip this part.

Part 5: Sign the form. You do not need to provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

Part 6: This question is optional. You can choose whether or not to provide ethnic and racial data.

If you are applying for only foster child(ren), follow these instructions. You do not need to fill out a separate application for each foster child in your household. (If there are both foster children and non-foster children in your household, follow the instructions below for All Other Households).

If all children in the household are marked as foster children in Part 1: 

Part 2: Skip this part.

Part 3: Skip this part.

Part 4: Skip this part.

Part 5: Sign the form. You do not need to provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

Part 6: This question is optional. You can choose whether or not to provide ethnic and racial data.

ALL OTHER HOUSEHOLDS, including WIC households and households with both foster children and non-foster children,  follow these instructions:

Part 2: Skip this part.

Part 3: If any child you are applying for is homeless, migrant, or a runaway check the appropriate box and call Janice Zahorik at the Reedsville Elementary School.  If not, skip this part.

Part 4: Follow these instructions to report total household income from this month or last month.

·       Section 1–Name: List all household members who have income.

·       Section 2 –Gross Income and How Often It Was Received: List the income for each household member. Check the box to tell us how often the person receives the income—weekly, every other week, twice a month, or monthly. 

o   Earnings from work: List the gross income, not the take-home pay. Gross income is the amount earned before taxes and other deductions. You should be able to find it on your pay stub or your boss can tell you. Net income should only be reported for self-owned business, farm, or rental income.

o   Welfare, Child Support, Alimony: List the amount each person receives, and check the box to tell us how often.

o   Pensions, Retirement, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veteran’s benefits (VA benefits), and disability benefits. List the amount each person receives, and check the box to tell us how often they receive it.

o   All Other Income: List Worker’s Compensation, unemployment or strike benefits, regular contributions from people who do not live in your household, and any other income received weekly, every other week, twice a month, monthly, quarterly, or annually. Do not include income from FoodShare, FDPIR, WIC, Federal education benefits and foster payments received by your family from the placing agency. 

o   If you are in the Military Privatized Housing Initiative or get combat pay, do not include these allowances as income.

Part 5: An adult household member must sign the form and list the last four digits of their Social Security Number (or write “none” if s/he doesn’t have one).  Writing “none” does not prevent your child(ren) from qualifying to receive free or reduced priced meals.

Part 6: This question is optional. You can choose whether or not to provide ethnic and racial data.

FREE AND REDUCED PRICE SCHOOL MEALS FAMILY APPLICATION

Part 1. all household members

Names of all people living in your household
(First, Middle Initial, Last)

School the child attends, or indicate  “NA” if household member is not in school

Grade

Check if a foster child (legal responsibility of welfare agency or court) 

If all children listed below are foster children, skip to Part 5 to sign this form. 

Check if NO income

 

 

 

q  

q    

 

 

 

q  

q    

 

 

 

q  

q    

 

 

 

q  

q    

 

 

 

q  

q    

 

 

 

q  

q    

 

Part 2.  BENEFITS

 

Part 3. Homeless, Migrant, Runaway Status

If any member of your household receives FoodShare, FDPIR or W-2 Cash Benefits, provide the name and case number for the person who receives benefits and skip to part 5.  If no one receives these benefits, go to Part 3. 

name:     

Case number:

 

If any child you are applying for is homeless, migrant, or a runaway check the appropriate box and call [your school, homeless liaison, migrant coordinator at phone #]       

 Homeless  q  Migrant q  Runaway  q

 

1. Name
(List only household members with income)

2. Gross income and how often it was received

Earnings from work before deductions.

Weekly

Every 2 Weeks

Twice  Monthly

Monthly

Welfare, child support, alimony

Weekly

Every 2 Weeks

Twice  Monthly

Monthly

Pensions, retirement, Social Security, SSI, VA benefits

Weekly

Every 2 Weeks

Twice  Monthly

Monthly

All Other Income

(indicate frequency, such as “weekly” “monthly” “quarterly” “annually”)

(Example)  Jane Smith

$200

$150

$0

$50     /   quarterly

 

$

$

$

$                    /

 

$

$

$

$                    /

 

$

$

$

$                    /

 

$

$

$

$                    /

 

$

$

$

$                    /

 

$

$

$

$                    /

 

Part 5. Signature and last four digits of Social Security Number (Adult must sign)

An adult household member must sign the application. If Part 4 is completed, the adult signing the form also must list the last four digits of his or her Social Security Number or write “none” if you do not have a Social Security Number. (See Privacy Act Statement on the back of this page.)

I certify (promise) that all information on this application is true and that all income is reported. I understand that the school will get Federal funds based on the information I give. I understand that school officials may verify (check) the information. I understand that if I purposely give false information, my children may lose meal benefits, and I may be prosecuted.    

Sign here:                                                                                          Print name:                                                                                   Date:

Address:                                                                                                           City:                                                                  State:                          Zip Code:

Phone Number:                                                                                                 Cell Phone Number:

Last four digits of Social Security Number (Write “None” if you do not have a Social Security Number):  * * * - *  * - __ __ __ __   

 

Part 6. Children’s ethnic and racial identities (optional)

Choose one ethnicity:

Choose one or more (regardless of ethnicity):                                                   

q Hispanic/Latino

q Not Hispanic/Latino

q Asian                q American Indian or Alaska Native                   q Black or African American                                     

q White               q Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander          

Do NOt fill out this part. This is for school use only.

Annual Income Conversion: Weekly x 52, Every 2 Weeks x 26, Twice A Month x 24 Monthly x 12

Total Income: ____________ Per: q Week  q Every 2 Weeks  q Twice A Month  q Month  q Year       Household size: ________

Categorical Eligibility: ___  Date Withdrawn: ________Eligibility: Free___  Reduced___  Denied___

 Reason: ________________________________________________________________________________

Determining Official’s Signature: ________________________________________________ Date: ______________

Confirming Official’s Signature: ________________________________________________                 Date: ______________

Verifying Official’s Signature: ________________________________________________                     Date: ______________

 

FEDERAL ELIGIBILITY INCOME CHART For School Year 2012-2013

Household size

Yearly

Monthly

Weekly

1

$20,665

 

$1,723

$398

2

$27,991

$2,333

$539

3

$35,317

$2,944

$680

4

$42,643

$3,554

$821

5

$49,969

$4,165

$961

6

$57,295

$4,775

$1,102

7

$64,621

$5,386

$1,243

8

$71,947

$5,996

$1,384

Each additional person:

$7,326

$611

$141

 

Your children may qualify for free or reduced price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart.

 


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 last four digits of the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application.  The last four digits of the social security number is not required when you apply on behalf of a foster child or you list a FoodShare,  W-2 Cash Benefits 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 your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules.

 


Non-discrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly. “In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice).  Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).   USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.