PRESS RELEASE: Friday, Aug. 21, 2015
What: Free, reduced-price meal applications now available at TPS
When: Friday, Aug. 21, 2015
Where: Tulsa Public Schools
Contact: Kit Hines at 918-833-8670or hineski@tulsaschools.org
TULSA, Okla. – Applications for free and reduced price meals for the 2015-16 school year are now available online at:www.tulsaschools.org/meals_applications. Printed applications are also available at school sites and can be returned to the cafeteria manager at the site or mailed to the Child Nutrition office at 8934 E. Latimer St., Tulsa, OK 74115.
Children need healthy meals to learn. TPS offers healthy meals every school day. Paid breakfast costs $1.10, and lunch costs $2.25 for elementary and $2.70 for secondary. Children may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals, bringing the price down to $0.30 for breakfast and $0.40 for lunch.
If a student received free or reduced-price meals last year, he or she will continue to receive benefits only for the first few weeks of the new school year. Without an approved application for free and reduced-price meals, the student would have to pay full price for meals after Oct. 2.
To ensure continued benefits, families are encouraged to complete the application before Oct. 1.
A child is eligible for free meals if his or her household receives assistance from:
· The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or, as applicable, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).
· The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) if the state program meets the statutory requirements.
When known to TPS Child Nutrition these households will be notified of the child(ren)’s eligibility. No application is required for free meal benefits for these households. If any children are not listed on the eligibility notice, a parent or guardian should contact the Child Nutrition office or their school to have free meal benefits extended to those children.
Also when known, Child Nutrition will notify households of any child’s eligibility for free meals if that child is “Other Source Categorically Eligible” because the child is categorized as:
· Homeless, migrant or runaway as defined by law.
· Enrolled in an eligible Head Start or Even Start program.
· For any child not listed on the eligibility notice, a parent or guardian should contact Child Nutrition or their school about any child also eligible under one of these programs, or should submit an income application for other children.
· If households or children receive benefits under Assistance Programs or Other Source Categorically Eligible Programs and are not notified by TPS Child Nutrition of their free meal benefits, a parent or guardian should contact Child Nutrition.
· Households notified of their children’s eligibility must contact Child Nutrition or their school if they choose to decline the free meal benefits.
FAQ: Free and Reduced-Price Meal Program
Below are some common questions and answers to aid in the process of determining your child’s eligibility.
1. Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No. Use the one Free and Reduced-Price School Meals 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 your cafeteria manager.
2. Who can get free meals? All children in households receiving benefits from SNAP or FDPIR can get free meals, regardless of your income. Your children can also get free meals if your household’s gross income is within the free limits on the Federal Income-Eligibility Guidelines.
STOP! If you have received a NOTICE OF DIRECT CERTIFICATION for free meals, do not complete the application, but DO let the school know if any children in your household are not listed on the Notice of Direct Certification letter you received.
3. Can foster children get free meals?Yes, foster children who are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
4. Can homeless, runaway, migrant and Head Start children get free meals? Yes, children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, migrant or are enrolled in a federal Head Start program are eligible for free meals. If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and have not been told your children will get free meals, please call the Homeless Liaison or Migrant Coordinator at 918-746-6477.
5. Who can get reduced-price meals?Your children can get reduced-price meals if your household income is within the reduced-price limits on the Federal Eligibility Income Chart shown below.
6. Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this school year saying my children are approved for free meals? No, but please read the letter you received carefully and follow the instructions. Call Tulsa Public Schools Child Nutrition at 918-833-8690or 918-833-8673 if you have questions.
7. My child’s application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out a new one? Yes. Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year. You must send a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year.
8. I get WIC. Can my children get free meals? Children in households participating in WIC MAY be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please send in an application.
9. Will the information I give be checked? Yes, and we may also ask you to send written proof.
10. If I do not qualify now, may I apply later? Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free or reduced-price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.
11. What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application? You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling 918-833-8673 or writing to:
Family Applications
12. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
13. Who should I include as members of my household? You must include all people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives or friends) who share income and expenses. You must include yourself and all children living with you. If you live with other people who are economically independent (for example, people who you do not support, who do not share income with you or your children, and who pay a prorated share of expenses), do not include them.
14. What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1,000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you make $1,000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes. If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.
15. We are in the military. Do we include our housing allowance as income? If you get an off-base housing allowance, it must be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income.
16. My spouse is deployed to a combat zone. Is his/her combat pay counted as income? No, if the combat pay is received in addition to his/her basic pay because of his/her deployment and it was not received before he/she was deployed, combat pay is not counted as income. Contact your school for more information.
17. My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for? To find out how to apply for SNAP benefits or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call 405-521-2937.
If you have any other questions, or need help, call 918-833-8690, 918-833-8673or 918-833-8670.
Listed below is the eligibility scale for free and reduced meals.
Eligibility scale for free meals
130 percent of Poverty Level
Household Size
|
Income
| ||||
Annual
|
Monthly
|
Twice Per Month
|
Every Two Weeks
|
Weekly
| |
1
|
15,301
|
1,276
|
638
|
589
|
295
|
2
|
20,709
|
1,726
|
863
|
797
|
399
|
3
|
25,117
|
2,177
|
1,089
|
1,005
|
503
|
4
|
31,525
|
2,628
|
1,314
|
1,213
|
607
|
5
|
36,933
|
3,078
|
1,539
|
1,421
|
711
|
6
|
42,341
|
3,529
|
1,765
|
1,629
|
815
|
7
|
47,749
|
3,980
|
1,990
|
1,837
|
919
|
8
|
53,157
|
4,430
|
2,215
|
2,045
|
1,023
|
For each additional family member, add:
|
5,408
|
451
|
226
|
208
|
104
|
Eligibility scale for reduced-price meals
185 percent of Poverty Level
Household Size
|
Income
| ||||
Annual
|
Monthly
|
Twice Per Month
|
Every Two Weeks
|
Weekly
| |
1
|
21,775
|
1,815
|
908
|
838
|
496
|
2
|
29,471
|
2,456
|
1,228
|
1,134
|
567
|
3
|
37,167
|
3,098
|
1,549
|
1,430
|
715
|
4
|
44,863
|
3,739
|
1,870
|
1,726
|
863
|
5
|
52,559
|
4,380
|
2,190
|
2,022
|
1,011
|
6
|
60,255
|
5,022
|
2,511
|
2,318
|
1,159
|
7
|
67,951
|
5,663
|
2,832
|
2,614
|
1,307
|
8
|
75,647
|
6,304
|
3,152
|
2,910
|
1,455
|
For each additional family member, add:
|
7,696
|
642
|
321
|
296
|
148
|
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