Free and Reduced Meal Information

One application per family!

1. Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No. Complete the application to apply for free or reduced price meals.  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 : Your school cafeteria or Betty Hammond at MHS

2. Who can receive free meals? Children in households receiving 3SquaresVT or Reach Up and most foster children can receive free meals regardless of your income. Also, your children can receive free meals if your household income is within the free income limits on the Federal Income Guidelines.

3. Can homeless, runaway and migrant children receive free meals? Please call your child’s school to see if your child(ren) qualify, if you have not been informed that they will receive free meals.

4. Who can receive reduced price meals? Your children can receive low cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Income Chart, shown on the back of the application.

5. Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this school year saying my children are pre-approved for free meals? Please read the letter you received carefully and follow the instructions. Call the school if you have questions.

6. My child’s application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out another 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 in a new application unless the school has told you that your child is eligible for the new school year.

7. I receive WIC. Can my child(ren) receive free meals? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals. Please fill out an application.

8. Will the information I give be checked? Yes, we may ask you to send written proof.

9. If I don’t qualify now, may I apply 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 receiving 3SquaresVT, Reach Up or other benefits. If you lose your job, your children may be able to receive free or reduced price meals.

10. 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:

Your child’s school principal.

11. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You or your child(ren) do not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for free or reduced price meals.

12. 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.

13. What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally receive $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only received $900, put down that you receive $1000 per month. If you normally receive overtime, include it, but not if you receive it only sometimes.

14. 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.

15.  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 wasn’t received before he/she was deployed, combat pay is not counted as income.  Contact your school for more information.

If you have other questions or need help, call Betty Hammond, Food service Director 225-8016 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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 USDA, director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD) USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Free and Reduced meals application