Free and Reduced-Price Meals

Important Information

Children need healthy meals to learn. York Suburban School District offers healthy meals every school day. During the 2023-24 school year, breakfast will be available for free.  Families receiving SNAP, TANF or in some cases Medical Assistance will be automatically eligible and should not need to submit an application for the free/reduced meal program.  You should receive a letter from the district about "direct certification". 

If you would like to apply for free or reduced meals, please review our FAQs and Application Information on the next tabs. This web page includes an application for free or reduced-price meal benefits, a set of detailed instructions, and frequently asked questions.

It is strongly recommended that you complete your application online in Infinite Campus.

Paper Applications and Instructions - if you are not able to complete the online application

Household Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals

Instructions

De solicitud de comidas escolares sin costo y a precio reducido para hogares

Instrucciones

 

Who can get free or reduced-price meals? Families that are already enrolled in SNAP, TANF, and some Medical Assistance programs will be automatically eligible for free meals and should receive a letter from the district about direct certification.  All students will receive free breakfast in 2023-24.  See the criteria below to see if you are eligible to apply for free meals.

What other situations may qualify children for free and reduced-price meals? All children in households receiving benefits from Food Assistance Program (FAP), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Family Independence Program (FIP) are eligible for free meals. Additionally, the following children would also be eligible.

  1. Foster children who are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
  2. Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
  3. Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
  4. Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if their household’s income is within the limits of the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.

What are the household size and income eligibility requirements? The 2023-24 household size and income requirements can be found at this link.

How do I know if my children qualify as homeless, migrant, or runaway? Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangements? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please contact Miranda King for assistance in receiving meal benefits.

Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No. Use 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 York Suburban School District, 1800 Hollywood Drive, York, PA 17403.

Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this school year saying my children are already approved for free meals? No, but please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, call the District at (717) 885-1210.

Can I apply online? Yes! You are encouraged to complete an online application instead of a paper application. The online application has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application. Click on the Application tab to begin the online application process. Contact Tammie Sheckells if you have any questions about the online application.

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 the first few days of this school year. You must send in a new application by October 2, 2021, unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year.

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 complete an application.

Will the information I supply be checked? Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report.

If I don't 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 and reduced-price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.

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 or writing to:

Dr. Scott Krauser
1800 Hollywood Dr
York, PA 17403
717-885-1122

May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced-price meals.

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 made $1000 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.

What if some household members have no income to report? Household members may not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application, or they may not receive income at all. Whenever this happens, please write a zero in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we will assume you meant to do so.

We are in the military. Do we report our income differently? Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, or receive Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance payments, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.

What if there isn't enough space on the application for my family? List any additional household members on a separate piece of paper, and attach it to your application. Please call (717) 885-1210 to receive a second application.

My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for? To find out how to apply for the Food Assistance Program (FAP) or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call 1-855-275-6424.

F & R Questions
Phone: (717)885-1128

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USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at using this link, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email:
    Program.Intake@usda.gov

 

York Suburban is an equal opportunity provider.