• All children in households receiving benefits from SNAP (food stamps) or TANF, are eligible for free meals, regardless of your income. Households receiving SNAP or TANF benefits may exclude income information and the last four digits of the signer’s social security number on their application. 

If you received a NOTICE OF DIRECT CERTIFICATION: DO NOT complete an application. Please read the entire letter and follow the instructions carefully. See #6 for more information.

• Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals. Foster children may be included as part of a household application, and are eligible for free meals, even if the household does not qualify. 
• Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant, are eligible for free meals. See #9 for more information.
• Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if your household income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals if your household gross income falls at or below the limits on the chart below:

INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES CHART

Yes! Beginning July 1st each school year, and you are encouraged to do so! Applying online is quick, confidential, and easy! The online application has the same requirements and will ask for the same information as the paper application. Apply online and follow the instructions. Contact the Healthy Meals Express Application Center at 813-840-7066 if you have any questions about the online application process.

Yes! Beginning July 1st each school year, and you are encouraged to do so! Applying online is quick, confidential, and easy! The online application has the same requirements and will ask for the same information as the paper application. Apply online and follow the instructions. Contact the Healthy Meals Express Application Center at 813-840-7066 if you have any questions about the online application process.

Yes! It is available in 7 languages: English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Filipino, Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) & Chinese (Mandarin). You may view a SAMPLE free and reduced meal application in 49 languages here

www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/translated-applications

Computers are available for use at no cost at the local public library and at the Healthy Meals Express Application Center, 9014 Brittany Way, Tampa, Florida, 33619. Your child’s school may also have a computer that can be used to complete an application. Need information where to obtain a paper application? Contact the Healthy Meals Express Application Center at 813-840-7066.

No. Use one meal 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. If approved, your child’s status will remain in effect for the entire school year

No, but please read the letter you received carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact the Healthy Meals Express Application Center at 813-840-7066 immediately.

Yes. Your child’s application is only good for that school year. If you do not submit a new application that is approved, or you have not received a NOTICE OF DIRECT CERTIFICATION, your child will be charged the full price for meals.

Call Healthy Meals Express Application Center 813-840-7066. Make sure to have your child’s 7-didgit student ID number handy when calling.

Are your housing arrangements temporary? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Have you taken in a runaway child? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions, please contact the liaison at the child’s school for assistance.

Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced- price meals. Please submit an application.

Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report.

Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year if there is a change in your household income or size, or if you become unemployed.

Contact the Healthy Meals Express Application Center at 813-840-7066. You may also ask for a hearing by writing to: General Manager of Student Nutrition Services, 9014 Brittany Way, Tampa, Florida 33619.

Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced-price meals.

List the amount that you normally receive. If you normally receive 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.

If there is no income to report, mark the box that says “None” for each household member. If you enter ‘0’ or leave any fields blank, you are certifying (promising) that there is no income to report.

Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you receive any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, 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. Deployed service members are considered part of the household. List deployed service members in the Household section, but report only the portion of their income made available to them or on their behalf to the family.

Contact the Healthy Meals Express Application Center at 813- 840-7066 for instructions.

Contact the Healthy Meals Express Application Center at 813-840-7066 for instructions.