Families Can Now Apply Online to Receive School Food Service Benefits

The School District of Palm Beach County Food Service Department announces its policy for Free and Reduced Price Meals for students under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. Any interested person may review a copy of the policy by contacting Jussara B. de Souza (JB) / 3661 N Interstate Park Rd, suite 100, Riviera Beach, FL 33404. Phone Number (561) 383-2025. 

To ensure applications are processed by the first day of school, they need to complete by August 05, 2012. Families can go to www.palmbeachschools.org/sfs to complete their application. 

Additional hard copies are available at the principal’s office in each school. Families need to complete one application per household, even if the siblings attend different Palm Beach County schools.  The information provided on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year. 

Household size and income criteria will be used to determine eligibility. Children from families whose income is at or below the levels shown may be eligible for Free or Reduced Price Meals.  An application cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information. Once approved, meal benefits are good for an entire school year. You need not notify the organization of changes in income and household size. 

To determine annual income: The total income before taxes, social security, health benefits, union dues, or other deductions must be reported.

• If you receive the income every week, multiply the total gross income by 52.
• If you receive the income every two weeks, multiply the total gross income by 26.
• If you receive the income twice a month, multiply the total gross income by 24.
• If you receive the income monthly, multiply the total gross income by 12.    

Households that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are required to list on the application only the child’s name, SNAP / TANF case number, and signature of adult household member. 

Foster children will receive free benefits regardless of the child’s personal income or the income of the household.  If the foster family chooses to apply and the foster family is not eligible for free or reduced price meals, it does not prevent a foster child from receiving free meal benefits. 

Household with children who are considered homeless or runaway should contact Kim Williams (561) 494-1589. Migrant students and families please contact the district liaison, Debbie Battles at (561) 357-5949. 

For the purpose of determining household size, deployed service members are considered a part of the household. Families should include the names of the deployed service members on their application. Report only that portion of the deployed service member’s income made available to them or on their behalf to the family. Additionally, a housing allowance that is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative is not to be included as income. 

All other households must provide the following information listed on the application: 

• Total household income listed by amount received and type of income and how often the income is received (wages, child support, etc.) received by each household member;   
• Names of all household members;
• Signature of an adult household member certifying the information provided is correct; and
• Four last digits of Social Security number of the adult signing the application or check the box for “NSSN” for this household member if he or she does not have a social security number. 

If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size changes, the school should be contacted. Children of parents or guardians who become unemployed should also contact the school. Such changes may make the student eligible for reduced price or free meals if the household income falls at or below the levels shown below. Under the provisions of the Free and Reduced Price meal policy the Chief Operating Office will review applications and determine eligibility.  If a parent or guardian is dissatisfied with the ruling of the official, he or she may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis.  If the parent wishes to make a formal appeal, he or she may make a request either orally or in writing to Michael Burke, 3340 Forest Hill Blvd. West Palm Beach, FL 33406. Phone number (561) 434-8510. 

Unless indicated otherwise on the application, the information on the Free and Reduced Price Meal application may be used by the school system in determining eligibility for other educational programs. 

For more information contact Susan Franklin at (561) 383-2058 or via email at susan.franklin@palmbeachschools.org.