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Direct Certification

In some communities the State Department of Education or School Food Authority works with the local Food Stamp, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) office to directly certify children for free meals. Only children living in households receiving Food Stamp, FDPIR or TANF benefits may be directly certified.

Starting in the 2006-07 school year, school districts with enrollments of over 25,000 students will be required to directly certify food stamp students for free school meals. In the 2007-08 school year, districts with over 10,000 students will fall under this requirement, and starting with the 2008-09 school year, all school districts nationwide will be required to directly certify food stamp students for free school meals.

Categorical Eligibility

When a child's household is receiving Food Stamp, FDPIR and/or TANF benefits, the child is categorically eligible for free school meals. "Categorical eligibility" means that all children who fall in that category may receive free school meals.

In the absence of direct certification, the household must submit a School Meals application, but the household need only complete a small portion the following parts of the application:

• the child's name
• a Food Stamp, FDPIR and/or TANF case number for the child
• the signature of an adult household member - the adult's Social Security number is NOT required

Requests on the application for ANY other information are strictly optional.

Families receiving Food Stamps, FDPIR or TANF benefits also may obtain free school meals without filling out a school meals application if the household receives a letter from the Food Stamps, FDPIR or TANF agency, which includes the following information:

• the child's name
• a statement certifying that the child is a member of household currently certified to receive Food Stamps, FDPIR or TANF
• information sufficient to match the child with the name of the child certified as a member of that household
• the signature (or copy of the signature) of the agency employee authorized to certify this information
• the date

Homeless, runaway and migrant children are also automatically eligible for free school meals.

Income-Based Eligibility

When a child's family is not receiving Food Stamp, TANF, or FDPIR benefits, the child may still qualify for free or reduced price meals based on the household income. These households must fill out more spaces on the school meals form:

• the names of all household members
• the amount of income each member received in the previous month and its source
• the signature of an adult household member
• the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application, OR, if that adult does not have a social security number, s/he must write "NONE" in that space, orif a "I do not have a social security number" box is provided, that must be checked. It cannot be left blank.
  

Requests on the application for ANY other information are strictly optional.

The child's school then compares the household size and total income to the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines, which determine who is eligible for free and reduced price school meals. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals.

Click here for the income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced price meals.

FRAC RESOURCES

Advocacy Update on Direct Certification

Child Nutrition Reauthorization and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 changes to school meals eligibility, applications and verifications

FRAC's School Meals Outreach Brochure (English or Spanish) explains to parents that they may seek free or reduced price school meals for their children at any time during the school year if their economic circumstances change

Income Guidelines and Reimbursement Rates for the Child Nutrition Programs

Information about homeless, runaway and migrant children's automatic eligibility for free school meals

Current news and analyses on child nutrition programs

USDA RESOURCES

Data Matching in the National School Lunch Program — Approaches to Direct Certification and Direct Verification Guide for State and Local Agencies

For more information on direct certification, see the Study of Direct Certification in the National School Lunch Program

USDA Guidance on School Meals eligibility gives technical assistance regarding application and eligibility issues.

Updated June 2007