Code of Federal Regulations Title 7. Agriculture § 7.245.5 Public announcement of the eligibility criteria

(i) In schools participating in a meal service program, the eligibility criteria for reduced price benefits with an explanation that households with incomes less than or equal to the reduced price criteria would be eligible for either free or reduced price meals, or in schools participating in the free milk option, the eligibility criteria for free milk benefits;

(ii) How a household may make application for free or reduced price meals or for free milk for its children;

(iii) An explanation that an application for free or reduced price benefits cannot be approved unless it contains complete information as described in paragraph (1)(i) of the definition of Documentation in § 245.2;

(iv) An explanation that households with children who are members of currently certified SNAP, FDPIR or TANF households may submit applications for these children with the abbreviated information described in paragraph (2)(ii) of the definition of Documentation in § 245.2;

(v) An explanation that the information on the application may be verified at any time during the school year;

(vi) How a household may apply for benefits at any time during the school year as circumstances change;

(vii) A statement to the effect that children having parents or guardians who become unemployed are eligible for free or reduced price meals or for free milk during the period of unemployment, Provided, that the loss of income causes the household income during the period of unemployment to be within the eligibility criteria;

(viii) The statement:  “In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age or disability;”

(ix) An explanation that Head Start enrollees and foster, homeless, migrant, and runaway children, as defined in § 245.2, are categorically eligible for free meals and free milk and their families should contact the school for more information;

(x) How a household may appeal the decision of the local educational agency with respect to the application under the hearing procedure set forth in § 245.7. The letter or notice shall be accompanied by a copy of the application form required under § 245.6.

(xi) A statement to the effect that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) participants may be eligible for free or reduced price meals.