Educational Benefit Applications

• Use Black or Blue Ink to complete the application form
• Print Clearly
• Use your student's name as it appears on their birth certificate
• List all other Household Members
• Fill in the last 4 digits of the Social Security Number for the signer or check the box for No Social Security Number
• Signature is Required
• Foster Child may be completed on a separate form, however, the regulations now state that foster children may be included in the household application as part of the household size.

No. Complete one 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.  Return the completed application to the Food Services Office, the School Office, or the School Cafeteria Manager.

There are several ways that your children may be eligible for free Educational Benefits. 

• Your child can receive free meals if your household income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Guidelines.
• Students can receive free Educational Benefits through "categorical eligibility".  If one member of your household is currently receiving assistance (benefits) from one of the following programs:  Food Stamps, FDPIR, CalWORKS, or Kin-GAP, all children in the household are eligible for free meals.  (Remember, a household is defined as "...a group of related or non-related individuals, who are not residents of an institution or boarding house, but who are living as one economic unit."
• Foster children are categorically eligible for free Educational Benefits.  An application is not needed yet there does need to be documentation of status by a state or local entity familiar with the child's status.  However, a change in the regulation states that foster children may be included in the household application as part of the household size.

Yes, the eligibility guidelines have changed from last year and you do need to complete a new application if you feel you still qualify for educational benefits.

Yes.  Other categorically eligible children are those who meet the definition of "migrant, homeless, or runaway", or who are enrolled in a federally-funded Head Start Center.  If you are homeless, runaway, or a migrant child, please contact the Food & Nutrition office for assistance in completing the application.  If you have a homeless, migrant, or runaway child, contact our office if you need assistance in completing the application.  (We usually receive documentation for these children from official sources, but if you know of any, please contact your Food Services Office.)

All applications MUST be renewed every new school year. Please carefully read the letter you received and follow the instructions. Call the Food & Nutrition Office if you have questions. If you received a letter the current school year, then no, you do not have to fill out a new application. (Just make sure that all of your children are listed on the letter as being eligible to receive free educational benefits.)

Your child can receive reduced-cost benefits if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Eligibility Guidelines. Please complete an application.

Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for reduced price or free educational benefits.  Please complete an application.

Yes, we may ask you to send written proof of the information you provide.

You may apply at any time during the school year.

You should talk to a school official. You may also ask for a hearing by calling or writing to the Food  & Nutrition Department or School District Business Department.

You or your child do not have to be a U.S. Citizen to qualify your child to receive reduced price or free meals.

Include yourself, all children who live with you, and all other people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends).

Please contact the Food & Nutrition Department for further instructions. Normally you will list the amount that you normally receive Before deductions. For example, if you normally receive $1,000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only got $900, put down that you get $1,000 per month. If you are normally paid overtime, include it.

Applications are available in English and Spanish. Applications may also be available in other languages.

Since the school district uses the birth date and name information from the Birth Certificate for all school records, the only way the application can be validated is by using the same process.

The consideration for approval of an application is based on income and the number of household members.  Therefore, it is required to list all members of the household.

These two sections are required fields and it is very important that these sections be completed. If this information is not complete, the application will be returned to the applicant. However, a change in requirements now only requires that the last 4 digits of the social security number for the adult signing the application be completed, rather than the entire social security number.

No, only complete one application per family/household.

Yes, include them as Other Household Members at the bottom of the form.

Under direct certification, school districts use information from the State Social Service Department to certify children to receive free Educational Benefits.  To qualify, the children's families must receive assistance from SNAP, CalWORKS, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, or Kin-GAP Programs.

Direct Certification Letters are sent to the homes of pre-approved students.

Yes.