Free, reduced lunch policies announced

Area school districts have announced their policy for determining eligibility of children who may receive free or reducedprice meals served under the National School Lunch Program.

Local school officials have adopted the United States Department of Agriculture’s Income Eligibility Guidelines for family size and income criteria for determining eligibility. The following income guidelines will be used in Connecticut from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, for determining eligibility of participants for free and reducedprice meals and free milk in the Child Nutrition Programs.

Application forms are available on our school website, barkhamstedschool.org under the Lunch Program tab. To apply for free or reducedprice meals, households should fill out the application and return it to the school.

Additional copies are available at the principal’s office.

Only one application is required per household and an application for free or reducedprice benefits cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information as indicated on the application and instructions. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purposes of determining eligibility and for administration and enforcement of the lunch program.

Additionally, all schoolaged children in incomeeligible households can receive school meal benefits regardless of a child’s immigration status, and the district/school does not release information for immigrationrelated purposes in the usual course of operating the CNPs.

For up to 30 operating days into the new school year, eligibility from the previous year will continue within the same local educational agency. When the carryover period ends, unless the household is notified that their children are directly certified or the household submits an application that is approved, the children must pay full price for school meals and the school will not send a reminder or a notice of expired eligibility.

No application is required if the district directly certifies a child based on a household member receiving assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the Temporary Family Assistance program. All children in these households are eligible for free meal benefits.

Households receiving assistance under the SNAP/TFA programs will be notified of their eligibility and their children will be provided free benefits unless the household notifies the determining official that it chooses to decline benefits.

If any children were not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact the district or school to have free meal benefits extended to those children. Households receiving SNAP or TFA benefits for their children should only submit an application if they are not notified of their eligibility by Sept. 6, 2019.

Some children may be directly certified for free or reducedprice meals based on Medicaid (HUSKY). No application is required if the district directly certifies a child based on Medicaid (HUSKY). All children in these households are eligible for free or reducedpriced meal benefits.

Households receiving assistance under Medicaid (HUSKY) will be notified of their eligibility and their children will be provided free or reducedprice benefits accordingly, unless the household notifies the determining official that it chooses to decline benefits.

If any children were not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact the district or school to have free or reducedprice meal benefits extended to those children.

If a child is not directly certified, the household should complete a free and reducedprice meal application form. The application for the SNAP or TFA households require the SNAP or TFA case number and the households may be asked to provide proof of the SNAP or TFA case number. The signature of an adult household member is also required.

Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reducedprice meals. Please send in an application or contact the determining official for more information.

When known to the district/ school, households will be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals if the individual child is Other Source Categorically Eligible because the child is categorized as either: Homeless; runaway as defined by law and determined by the district’s or school’s homeless liaison; or enrolled in an eligible Head Start or prekindergarten class as defined by law.

Households with children who are categorically eligible under Other Source Categorically Eligible Programs should complete an application and checkoff the relevant box..

Households notified of their children’s eligibility must contact the determining official or school if it chooses to decline the free meal benefits.

Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court, are categorically eligible for free meals. A foster parent does not have to complete a free/reduced meal application if they can submit a copy of the legal document or legal court order showing that the child is a foster child. Additionally, a foster child may be included as a member of the foster family if the foster family chooses to also apply for benefits.

Application forms for all other households require a statement of total household income, household size and names of all household members. The last four digits of the Social Security number of an adult household member must be included or a statement that the household member does not have one. The adult household member must sign the application certifying the information is correct.

If a household member becomes unemployed or if household size changes at any time, the family should contact the school to file a new application. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for reducedprice meals, free meals, or free milk, if the family income falls at or below the levels shown in the Income Guidelines.

. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 8008778339.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD3027) 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.