Full Booklet Available in PDF & Word
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
The 2019-2020 Free and Reduced Price Income Eligibility and Policy Information Booklet announces the income eligibility guidelines for the 2019-2020 school year and provides each School Food Authority (SFA) with the forms and guidance needed to process applications for free and reduced price meals and/or milk. Many of these forms are in Word document format for your convenience.
This manual reiterates the most recent information needed to make eligibility determinations. Webinars are available on the Child Nutrition Knowledge Center (CNKC) website that address the application and eligibility process. These Webinars count toward annual training for Professional Standards.
SFAs should also refer to the USDA Eligibility Manual for School Meals published in July 2017 for information regarding determining and verifying eligibility.
Retain with copies of the public release, application form, and parent letter(s) used by your district/school for free or reduced price meal and/or milk benefits during the 2019-2020 school year.
Foreign Language Applications and Letters
An application and parent letter in Spanish is included as an attachment to this booklet and is available on the CNKC website. Prototype copies of applications are also available through USDA in many translated foreign languages. Each foreign language packet downloaded from USDA contains a letter to households, a free and reduced price application and instructions, a notice to households of approval/denial of benefits, a notice of Direct Certification, a waiver for information for health insurance, a verification selection letter to parents and a verification letter of results and adverse action. These can be downloaded from USDA’s web site at https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/translated-applications.
