free and reduced price eligibility presented by
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Free and Reduced Price Eligibility Presented by Theresa Jinky Romero Health Educator NM Coordinated School Health & Wellness Bureau. Part I Administration and Program Overview. USDA released an updated version of the Eligibility Manual for School Meals in August 2013. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Free and Reduced Price Eligibility
Presented by Theresa Jinky Romero Health Educator
NM Coordinated School Health & Wellness Bureau
PART I ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM OVERVIEW USDA released an updated version of the
Eligibility Manual for School Meals in August 2013.
The current Eligibility Manual can be downloaded from
www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/EliMan.pdf
School Nutrition Programs are Administered by UDSA FNS
SFA VS. LEA
SFA – School Food Authority
Governing body responsible for the administration of one or more schools
Has legal authority to operate a Program
LEA – Local Educational Agency
Governing body responsible for certifying and verifying F/RP school meal eligibility
3
School Food Authority Local Educational Agency
LEA Chama Valley Independent
Schools
SFA Tierra Amarilla
Schools
Tierra Amarilla Elementary
Tierra Amarilla Mid- High
School
SFA Chama Schools
Chama Elementary
POLICY STATEMENT Required for participation Avoid any practice that has the effect of
overtly identifying children receiving meal benefits
Policy statement must include civil rights statement
Includes procedures for an appeal and fair hearing procedure
The policy statement can be amended only for significant change occurs within the LLEA
PUBLIC RELEASE Near the beginning of each school year the
LEA Must notify the public that the NSLP, SBP, and/or
SMP is available. Must include information that households
receiving SNAP, or FRPIR must be notified to their eligibility.
Must include the eligibility criteria for free and reduced priced meals.
The release must be provided to local news media, the local employment office
Copies must also be made available upon request to any interested individuals.
APPLICATION AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS Application and supporting materials must
be clear and simple in design. Must be in a language that parents &
guardians can understand in order to diminish language barriers to participation
Foreign language translations & USDA prototypes can be found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Application/familyapps.html
LETTER TO PARENTS
Must be distributed to households of all students at the beginning of the school year.
Must be sent out with the applications Either by postal service, email or information packet
provided to students.
You may use the prototype letter provided by USDA or one of your own but the information must contain all the required elements listed in the eligibility manual.
INFORMING HOUSEHOLDS
LEAs may not accept or process application prior to July 1
Year-round schools usually follow the July 1- June 30 school year
Households enrolling new students after the start of the school year must be provided an information letter and application when they enroll.
OTHER SOURCE CATEGORICALLY ELIGIBLE
Children are automatically eligible for free meal benefits based on participation in one of the following programs. Federal Head Start Program Enrolled in Even Start (must be at the Per-K
Level) Determined Homeless Determined Migrant Determined Runaway Foster Child
NOTE:A Child’s eligibility for free meals under Other Source Categorically Eligible does not extend to any other child in the household.
Children who reside in “ Assistance Program Households” which include SNAP, FDPIR and TANF
are categorically eligible and this eligibility can extend to other
children in the household.
OTHER SITUATIONS Residential Child Care Institutions
Each child household of one
Not residing in the institution - application or direct cert.
Residing in the institution – Application or eligibility documentation sheet.
PREVENTING OVERT IDENTIFICATION LEAs are not required to provide applications
to households fo directly certified students.
However, LEAs must ensure that children directly certified are not overly identified in the distribution processs.
INCOME ELIGIBILITY Determining Household composition and
income
Economic Unit- A group of related or unrelated individuals who are not residents of an institution or boarding house but who are living as one economic unit and who share housing and/or significant income and expenses of the members.
Separate economic units - May reside in the same house when expenses are prorate and they are economically independent from one another.
INCOME TO REPORT Earning from work before deductions
Current Income
Child’s income should the child who is a full time or regular part time employee
Welfare/Child Support/Alimony
Retirement/Disability
WHAT IS NOT CONSIDERED INCOME
SNAP
FDPIR
PROCESSING APPLICATIONS Benefits Prior to Processing
LEAs must carry over eligibility status from the previous year for any child who: Had an approved application from the previous year
Is a new student from a household with children approved the previous year, unless the sibling was Other Source Categorically Eligible
Was previously approved and transfers to another schools within the same LEA
CARRYOVER OF PREVIOUS YEAR’S ELIGIBILITY
Carryover is for the first 30 operating days
Applies to: Direct
CertificationOther Source Categorically
EligibleSNAP/FDPIR Applications
Income Applications.
APPLICATION PROCESSING
Application must be reviewed in a timely manner An eligibility determinations must be made and
implemented within 10 working days of the receipt of the application.
Date Stamp all applications to insure 10 day processing time.
Households should be notified immediately if benefits are denied or reduced from the level of previous year.
LEAs must have a method for documenting the date the applications was received and the date the application was
approved or certified.
INCOME RECEIVED Total all sources and compare to the
appropriate Income Eligibility Guideline (IEG)- weekly , monthly, annually, twice per month or every two weeks.
Note: If there are multiple income sources with more than one frequency, annualize all income by multiplying . Weekly income by 52 Bi-weekly (every 2 weeks) by 26 Bi-monthly ( twice per month) by 24 Monthly by 12Add all un-rounded converted value and compare
IEG for annual income for the household size.
COMPLETE INCOME APPLICATION
Names of all household members
Amount, source, and frequency of current gross income by each household member, or indication of no income
Signature of adult household member
The last FOUR digits of the SSN of the adult signing the application or an indication that they do not have one.
SNAP/FDPIR APPLICATIONS
Required information: Student name(s) Name of person receiving benefits SNAP/FDPIR number Signature of adult household member
SNAP Case Number Alpha numeric – 7 total In NM all begin with _____ The EBT card number cannot be used
FDPIR case numbers9 total digits – All numeric
OTHER SOURCE CATEGORICALLY ELIGIBILITY
Required Information Students name Indication of child’s categorical eligibility Signature of adult household member
Applications for students who are classified as: Migrant Homeless Runaway
Foster Child(ren) Required Information
Students nameIndication of child’s categorical eligibilitySignature of adult household member
COMPLETE APPLICATIONS The LEA cannot delay the approval of the
application for non-required information that is missing. Missing address Missing phone number, and Date next to the adult signature
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS
Any application that is missing required information, that contains inconsistent information, or is unclear is considered an incomplete applications and cannot be processed.
LEA should make every reasonable effort to obtain missing information prior to denying the application.
NOTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION
Households that are approved for free Or reduced benefits may be informed in writingOr verbally
On the applications LEA officials must:1. Idicate denial date2. Indicate reason for denial3. Indicate date denial notice
was sent4. Sign or initial application
Households denied benefits must be given:Written notice must include: 1. Reason for the denial
2. The right to appeal
3. Instructions on how to appeal
4. A statement that the family may reapply at anytime during
the school year.
Questions?