Family & Community Students & Families Student Support, Career & Education
Nutrition, Health and Safety

FY2009 Free and Reduced Meal Applications and Income Eligibility Guidelines

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 2008-2009. 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 web site 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 2008-2009. The Meal Eligibility Guidance Book is located on the Internet at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Guidance/default.htm.

The federal income eligibility guidelines to determine free or reduced price meal benefit status are enclosed. The school year 2008-2009 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, www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/, 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. A copy of the guidance on the limited disclosure of Eligibility Information is enclosed for reference. 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 2008-2009 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. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call Nutrition staff at 781-338-6494.

Enclosures