1. FREE AND REDUCED MEAL APPLICATIONS
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW???

2. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A FREE AND REDUCED MEAL APPLICATION EACH YEAR???
YES!!! A FREE AND REDUCED MEAL APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETED FOR STUDENTS EACH YEAR unless you have received a letter in the mail stating that your student has been identified as DIRECTLY-CERTIFIED for the current school year.

3. NO!!! INCLUDE ALL STUDENTS AND
DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A SEPARATE APPLICATION FOR EACH OF MY STUDENTS???
NO!!! INCLUDE ALL STUDENTS AND
ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS
ON ONE APPLICATION.

4. WHAT QUALIFIES MY STUDENT FOR MEAL BENEFITS?
MEAL BENEFITS ARE DETERMINED BASED ON: ASSISTANCE RECEIVED BY THE HOUSEHOLD OR BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME OR Students who are in Foster Care, Homeless, Runaway or Migrant
What does this mean?

5. Households that receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) OR OWF (Ohio Works First) benefits qualify for meal benefits.
The SNAP or OWF case number is required on the application. This is the number listed on the letter from Job and Family Services stating that the household receives benefits. Please keep this letter handy for verification. It is not necessary to provide income information if receiving SNAP or OWF and the case number is provided.

6. HOUSEHOLD INCOME
If no one in the household receives SNAP or OWF, then Meal Benefits are determined using the household size and the gross income for all members residing in the household.
Income guidelines are determined by the USDA and change from year to year.
Gross Income and How Often It Was Received: For each household member, list each type of income received for the month. Check the box to tell us how often the person receives the income—weekly, every other week, twice a month, or monthly. For earnings, be sure to 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. For other income, list the amount and check the box to tell us how often each person got for the month from welfare, child support, alimony, pensions, retirement, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veteran’s benefits (VA benefits), and disability benefits. Under 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. Do not include income from SNAP, FDPIR, WIC, Federal education benefits and foster payments received by the family from the placing agency. For ONLY the self-employed, under Earnings from Work, report income after expenses. This is for your business, farm, or rental property. If you are in the Military Privatized Housing Initiative or get combat pay, do not include these allowances as income.

7. FOSTER CHILDREN