SY 2018 – 2019 Free and Reduced Meal Applications Are Now Available. Please Use the “Apply Online!” Buttons Below! 
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Free and Reduced Meal Applications

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NOTICE:  Please contact Tansheila Harris (Free & Reduced Supervisor) at 678-676-2333 should you have any questions.

Prior Year Application (Carryover of Eligibility):
A child’s eligibility from the previous school year is carried into the current school year for up to 30 operating days, beginning on the first operating day of school. SY 2017-2018 Meal Lunch Applications will expire on September 17, 2018.

Applications for free and reduced meals are distributed to students at the beginning of the school year. At all other times, applications are available from the school nutrition manager. Applications can be submitted at any time during the school year and will be processed as quickly as possible. A new application must be submitted each year. The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services Department has translated the state prototype Free and Reduced Price School Meal Family Application into 33 other languages. If you are unable to use this site in the provided languages (English and Spanish) please use the other languages link to download and print the application in your primary language. Submit the completed application to your local School Nutrition Manager or to the School Nutrition Scanning Office, 5855 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain, GA. 30083 (Fax to 678-676-1945).

Verification Process takes place October 1, 2018 through November 15, 2018. During this process, we must verify eligibility of children from a random sampling pool which uses the total number of approved applications on file as of October 1 of the current school year. The sample pool depends on the number of approved applications, paper or electronic, and is not based on the number of children eligible for free and reduced price benefits.

Direct Certification is the determination of eligibility for free meal benefits based on documentation obtained from the appropriate State or local agency or other authorized individuals.

Free & Reduced Application Flyer – ENGLISH

Free & Reduced Application Flyer – SPANISH

Free & Reduced Applications in Other Languages

Free and Reduced Frequent Asked Questions

Do I need to fill out an application for each child?

No. You can use one Free and Reduced Meal 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. Complete the online application from www.SchoolCafe.com

How long will it take for my application to be processed?

It may take up to ten business days to approve your application. Students are expected to pay for full price meals and parents are responsible for all charges until the application has been approved.  Completing an application online with SchoolCafe.com, and entering all required information can expedite the approval process. 

What does it mean if I am Direct Certified?

Direct Certified students automatically receive free meals for the entire year. This means you have a food stamp or TANF number. You may call us to remove your child from the free and reduced program if you do not want this benefit.

Why does my child(ren) have a charge balance?

Your child may have purchased an A La Carte items that are not part of the Free/Reduced meal. Also when an application approval date expires, a Free or Reduced student without payment for meals will accrue charges and the parents are liable for these charges.

Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this School Year stating my chid(ren) are approved for meal benefits?

Please carefully read the letter you received. Call your child’s school if you have questions or contact the Free & Reduced Supervisor at 678-676-2333

What if my child(ren)'s status changes?

A student who changes from Free to Reduced or to Paid will be given 10 calendar days and written notice of the date of this change. A student who changes from Paid or Reduced to Free will be changed immediately to the increased benefit.

Who can receive free meals?

All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations or, in some STATES Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), 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.

Who can receive reduced price meals?

Your children can get low cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Eligibility Income Chart, shown on this application.

I receive WIC, do my chid(ren) qualify for free meals?

Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals. Please complete an application online with SchoolCafe.com

Can foster children receive 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. USDA requires the foster parent to submit an application to be processed.

Can homeless, runaways, or migrant children receive free meals?

Yes, children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant qualify for free meals. If you have not been told your children will receive free meals, please call our Free & Reduced Supervisor at 678-676-223 to see if they qualify.

Should I complete a new application each year?

Yes. Your child(ren)’s application is valid for one School Year and for the first 30 days into a new School Year. You must complete a new application each School Year, unless you have received a notice that your chid(ren) have already been approved.

Will the information I provide be verified?

Yes the information may be verified and we may ask for proof of income.

If I am denied for meal benefits, can I reapply at a later time?

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 or reduced price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.

Do you have to be a U.S. citizen to apply for meal benefits?

No. You or your child(ren) do not have to be U.S. citizens to qualify for free or reduced price meals.

Who do I need to include on the application?

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.

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 the combat pay counted as income?

No, if the combat pay is received in addition to her basic pay because of her deployment and it was not received before she was deployed, combat pay is not counted as income. Contact our Free & Reduced Supervisor for more information at 678-676-2333.

Who can I speak to about the decision regarding my application?

Please contact our Free & Reduced Supervisor at 678-676-2333.

What if I do not have a social security number?

You must include the last four digits of the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application. If you do not have a social security number, you must mark the box on the application informing us that you do not have one. 

I did not fill out an application and my child is Free/Reduced.

Your child may be Direct Certified through the State Department of Family and Children Services or a Counselor or Principals may have applied for students known to be eligible.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:(1)       mail: U.S. Department of AgricultureOffice of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;(2)       fax: (202) 690-7442; or(3)       email: program.intake@usda.gov.This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Spanish Translation

Los demás programas de asistencia nutricional del FNS, las agencias estatales y locales, y susbeneficiarios secundarios, deben publicar el siguiente Aviso de No Discriminación:De conformidad con la Ley Federal de Derechos Civiles y los reglamentos y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los EE. UU. (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés), se prohíbe que el USDA, sus agencias, oficinas, empleados e instituciones que participan o administran programas del USDA discriminen sobre la base de raza, color, nacionalidad, sexo, discapacidad, edad, o en represalia o venganza por actividades previas de derechos civiles en algún programa o actividad realizados o financiados por el USDA.Las personas con discapacidades que necesiten medios alternativos para la comunicación de la información del programa (por ejemplo, sistema Braille, letras grandes, cintas de audio, lenguaje de señas americano, etc.), deben ponerse en contacto con la agencia (estatal o local) en la que solicitaron los beneficios. Las personas sordas, con dificultades de audición o discapacidades del habla pueden comunicarse con el USDA por medio del Federal Relay Service [Servicio Federal de Retransmisión] al (800) 877‐8339. Además, la información del programa se puede proporcionar en otros idiomas.Para presentar una denuncia de discriminación, complete el Formulario de Denuncia de Discriminación del Programa del USDA, (AD‐3027) que está disponible en línea en: http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Spanish_Form_508_Compliant_6_8_12_ 0.pdf. y en cualquier oficina del USDA, o bien escriba una carta dirigida al USDA e incluya en la carta toda la información solicitada en el formulario. Para solicitar una copia del formulario de denuncia, llame al (866) 632‐9992. Haga llegar su formulario lleno o carta al USDA por:(1)  correo: U.S. Department of AgricultureOffice of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250‐9410;(2)  fax: (202) 690‐7442; o(3) correo electrónico: program.intake@usda.gov.Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.