Children need healthy meals to learn. Switzerland County Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals. Reduced-price is 30-cents for breakfast and 40-cents for lunch.
To apply for free or reduced-price meals, use the Free and Reduced-price School Meals and Other Benefits Application, which is available at your child’s school. Applications are also available at the AFDC office in Vevay; the Dollar General store in Vevay; the Family Dollar store in East Enterprise; and at the Patriot Water Company office.
Here are answers to questions you may have about applying:
1. Who can get free or reduced price meals? Children in households getting Food Stamps or TANF and most foster children can get free meals regardless of your income. Also, if your household income is within the limits on the Federal Income Chart, your children can get free or reduced-price meals.
2. Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No. Complete the application to apply for free and reduced price meals. Use one application for all students in your household. The schools cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to: the school office that your child attends.
3. Should I fill out an application if I got a letter this school year saying my children are approved for free or reduced price meals? Please read the letter that you received carefully and follow the instructions. Call the school at 427-3343 if you have any questions.
4. 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 fill out the application.
5. Can migrant, homeless, or runaway children get free meals? Please call the school administration office at 427-2611 to see if the children qualify, if you have not been informed that they will get free meals.
6. 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.
7. 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). You must include yourself and all children who live with you.
8. Will the information I give be checked? Yes, we may ask you to send written proof of the information you give.
9. What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally get. For example: if you normally get $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 normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get it only sometimes.
10. We are in the military; do we include our housing allowance as income? If your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. All other allowances must be included in your gross income.
11. If I don’t qualify now, may I apply again later? Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, income goes down, or if you start getting Food Stamps or TANF. If you lost your job, your children may be able to get free or reduced-price meals during the time you are unemployed.
12. What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application? You should talk to the school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to Gayla Bullock, 1020 West Main Street, Vevay, Indiana, 47043; 812-427-3343.
Si necesita ayuda, por favor llame at telefono: 812-427-3343.
Eligibility guidelines are as follows:
– For a household size of one, annual income cannot exceed $20,036; monthly income cannot exceed $1,670; and weekly income cannot exceed $386.
– For a household size of two, annual income cannot exceed $26,955; monthly income cannot exceed $2,247; and weekly income cannot exceed $519.
– For a household size of three, annual income cannot exceed $33,874; monthly income cannot exceed $2,823; and weekly income cannot exceed $652.
– For a household size of four, annual income cannot exceed $40,793; monthly income cannot exceed $3,400; and weekly income cannot exceed $785.
– For a household size of five, annual income cannot exceed $47,712; monthly income cannot exceed $3,976; and weekly income cannot exceed $918.
– For a household size of six, annual income cannot exceed $54,631; monthly income cannot exceed $4,553; and weekly income cannot exceed $1,051.
– For a household size of seven, annual income cannot exceed $61,550; monthly income cannot exceed $5,130; and weekly income cannot exceed $1,184.
– For a household size of eight, annual income cannot exceed $68,469; monthly income cannot exceed $5,706; and weekly income cannot exceed $1,317.
– For each additional person, add $6,919 per year; $577 per month; and $134 per week.
Privacy Act Statement: This explains how we will use the information you give us. The National School Lunch Act requires the information on this application. You do not have to give the information, but if you do not, we cannot approve your children for free or reduced-price meals. The Social Security Number of the adult household member who signs the application is required unless you list Food Stamp or TANF case numbers for all children you are applying for, or if you are applying for a foster child. You must check the “I do not have a Social Security Number” box if the adult household member signing the application does not have a Social Security Number. We will use your information to see if your children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, to run the program, and to enforce the rules of the program. We may share you eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into misuse of program rules.
Non-discrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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Income to Report:
– Earnings from Work: wages/salaries/tips, strike benefits, unemployment compensation, workman’s compensation, net income from self-owned business or farm.
– Welfare/Child Support/Alimony: public assistance payments, welfare payments, alimony payments, child support payments.
– Pensions/Retirement/Social Security: Pensions, retirement income, social security, veteran payments, supplemental Social Security income.
– Other Income: earnings from second job, disability benefits, interest/dividends, cash withdrawn from savings, income from estates/trusts/investments, regular contributions from persons not living in the household, royalties/annuities/rental income, any other monies that may be available to pay for the child’s meals.