FY2010 Free and Reduced Meal Applications and Income Eligibility Guidelines
| To: | School Nutrition Directors |
| From: | Kathleen C. Millett, Administrator
Nutrition, Health and Safety |
| Date: | June 22, 2009 |
The prototype short form multi-child application for annual direct distribution at the beginning of the school year to households interested in applying for free or reduced price meal benefits has been updated for use in school year 2009-2010. The US Department of Agriculture's prototype of the Free and Reduced Price Meal Application is available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/FRP/frp.process.htm. Applications are available for download from that website in several languages. After you download the MS Word document, you need to complete the bold bracketed fields to reflect your school district's information as well as make any other changes for your district. The application needs to have the reduced price income guidelines inserted into the document on page 2 of the application form for school year 2009-2010.
The federal income eligibility guidelines to determine free or reduced price meal benefit status are enclosed. The school year 2009-2010 income eligibility guidelines are to be used by the determining official(s) and the hearing official(s) identified in your Free and Reduced Price Meal Policy Statement. Income information must be current at time of application. Applications cannot be distributed until the beginning of the school year.
The packet as posted on the website, http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/FRP/frp.process.htm, also has additional documents for the meal benefit eligibility and verification process. There is a document related to the sharing of meal eligibility status with other programs. The sharing of information may be done for specific programs, local programs that are not covered by the federal/state education program as authorized by law, as long as the program is identified on the release form. Individual programs must be listed and have the parent/guardian's signature prior to the release of any information. Additional information can be found in The Meal Eligibility Guidance Book located on the Internet at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Guidance/. A flyer to be reproduced and distributed to households with information on the Child Health Insurance Program is a separate attachment as is the meal benefit notification letter and the hearing procedure.
During the upcoming summer, direct certification for school year 2009-2010 will be posted on the Department's website and accessed through the security portal. In collaboration with district technology staff, districts are able to access and certify children eligible for free meals. The At A Glance Guide to the Meal Benefit and Issuance Process is available by contacting Jane Chang in our office by email at jchang@doe.mass.edu or by telephone at 781-338-6498. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call Nutrition staff at 781-338-6494.
Enclosures
  | Income Eligibility Guidelines July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 |
| | 2009-2010 Free and Reduced Meals Application Hearing Procedures |
| | Meal Benefit Notification 2009-2010 |
| | MassHealth flyer |
last updated: June 22, 2009
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