Dear Parent/Guardian:

Children need healthy meals to learn. Spartanburg School District Five offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.15; lunch costs $1.80 at the Elementary Schools and $1.90 at the Intermediate, Middle & High Schools. Your children may qualify for free or reduced price meals. Reduced price is .30 for breakfast and .40 for lunch.

1. Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No. Complete one Free and Reduced Price School Meals 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. Return the completed application to: Kim Brewton or Cindy Smith, Spartanburg School District Five, 100 N. Danzler Rd. Duncan, SC 29334.

2. Who can get free meals? Children in households getting SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) or TANF and most foster children can get free meals regardless of your income. Also, your children can get free price meals if your household income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Guidelines.

3. Can homeless, runaway and migrant children get free meals? Please call Spartanburg School District Five (864) 949-2350 to see if your child(ren) qualify, if you have not been informed that they will get free meals.

4. Who can get reduced price meals? Your children can get low cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Income Chart.

5. Should I fill out an application if I got a letter this school year saying my children are approved for free or reduced price meals? Please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions. Call the District Office at (864) 949-2350 if you have questions.

6. My child's application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out another one? Yes. Your child's application is only good for the first few days of this school year. You must send in a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year.

7. I get WIC. Can my child(ren) get free meals? Children in household participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals. Please fill out application.

8. Will the information I give be checked? Yes, we may ask you to send written proof.

9. If I don't qualify now, may I apply later? Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, income goes down, or if you start getting SNAP, TANF or other benefits. If you lose your job, your child(ren) may be able to get free or reduced price meals.

10. What if I disagree with the school's decision about my application? You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: Spartanburg School District Five, 100 N. Danzler Rd. Duncan, SC 29334.

11. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You or your child(ren) do not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for free or reduced price meals.

12. Who should I include as members of my household? You must include all people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends). You must include yourself and all children who live with you.

13. What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally get. For example, if you normally get $1000 each

month, but you missed some work last month and only got $900, put down that you get $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime,

include it, but not if you get it only sometimes.

14. We are in the military; do we include our housing allowance as income? If your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization

Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. All other allowances must be included in your gross income.

15. My spouse is deployed to a combat zone. Is his/her combat pay counted as income? No, if the combat pay is received in addition

to her basic pay because of his/her deployment and it wasn't received before he/she was deployed, combat pay is not counted as

income. Contact your school for more information.

16. My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for? To find out how to apply for SNAP or other assistance

benefits, contact your local assistance office or call your school for assistance.

If you have other questions or need help, call (864) 949-2350.

Si necesita ayuda, or favor llame al telefono: (864) 949-2350.

Si vous voudriez d'aide, contactez nous au numero: (864) 949-2350.

Sincerely,

Greg Wood

Non-discrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly. “In accordance with Federal law and U. S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TYY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”

Free and Reduced Price School Meals Letter to Households 2010-11, Page 1 of 1