How to Qualify for Free or Reduced School Lunch

Member

By coffeefirst
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (3 Ratings)

Your child may be eligible for free or reduced price lunch

In 1946 Harry Truman signed the National School Lunch Act. Because of this, the National School Lunch Program has emerged. This is a program that provides federal assistance to provide healthy well balanced lunches to children whose families are suffering financially. It ensures that all children have the ability to access nutritional meals at school. The program is based on several factors to include family size and income, and anyone may apply.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

At the start of the school year, your child's school will send home an application for free or reduced priced lunches. Fill out the application and send it back to the school as soon as possible.

If your school doesn't send an application home, stop by the school, or call and ask for one to complete.
Step 2

Make sure you list accurate information on the application. To include items such as if you are already receiving public assistance. Sometimes schools will automatically give your child free or reduced lunches if you are receiving Medicaid, foodstamps, or welfare benefits. Be sure to list that information on the application. No one else will see the application except the food and nutrition department at the school so please be honest.
Step 3

Once the school receives your child's application, they will use a number of different factors to determine if your child is eligible to eat lunch at a reduced rate or for free. It should not take too long for the appropriate people to process your application.
Step 4

After review of the application, your local school system will send home a determination letter telling you if you are approved for free or reduced lunches. If you are approved for reduced lunches, you may only have to pay around $0.40 for a daily lunch for your child.

Comments

kaldrich88 said

Flag This Comment

on 8/11/2009 informative article. 5*

amylaine said

on 8/10/2009 I looked at the income guidelines for my state today and found out that the income required really is not all that low. So some may think they do not qualify and do. Also even if qualify but do not think you need it because you pack your kids lunch go ahead and sign up. Schools get a lot of extra grant money beyond the school lunch program for low income families. The survey used for the lunch program is how they qualify for other grants to pay for books and other needed school material.