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HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2024-2025 School Year

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Children need a strong nutritional foundation to succeed inside and outside the classroom. Harford County Public Schools offers nutritious, well-balanced meals every school day. Meal prices are available on www.hcpsmenus.com. Your child/children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals. There is no charge for reduced-priced breakfast and lunch.

If you have received a NOTICE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE MEALS (dated after 7/1/2024), do NOT complete the application, let us know if any children in your household are NOT listed on the NOTICE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE MEALS letter received or if you have questions, call (410) 638-4078.

1. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD? No. Use one Meal Benefit Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals for all students in your household. An incomplete application cannot be approved, be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to your student’s school or fax to us at (410) 638-4201 or use the online application.

2. WHO CAN QUALIFY FOR FREE MEALS? All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), foster children, children certified as homeless, runaway, migrant, Head Start, Early Head Start, Even Start, or children who have been Medicaid matched through the Maryland Direct Certification System will receive free meals regardless of your income. Also, your children can get free meals if your household’s gross income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.

3. WHO CAN RECEIVE REDUCED-PRICE MEALS? Your children can get reduced-price meals if your household income is within the reduced-price limits on the Federal Eligibility Income Chart. There will be no charge for reduced-price meals this school year.

4. I COMPLETED AN APPLICATION LAST YEAR. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW ONE? Yes. Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year.

5. I RECEIVE WIC. CAN MY CHILDREN RECEIVE FREE MEALS? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please submit an application.

6. WILL THE INFORMATION BE CHECKED? Yes, and there may be a request for you to send in proof of income.

7. IF WE DO NOT QUALIFY NOW, MAY WE APPLY LATER? Yes, you may apply at any time. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced-price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.

8. WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH THE SCHOOL’S DECISION ABOUT MY APPLICATION? You may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: Kristen Sudzina, Supervisor of Food and Nutrition, 101 Industry Lane, Forest Hill, MD 21050. Phone (410) 638-4078.

9. MAY I APPLY IF SOMEONE IN MY HOUSEHOLD IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN? Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

10.WHO SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS MEMBERS OF MY HOUSEHOLD? Include all people living in your household, related (such as grandparents or other relatives) or not (foster children or friends) who share income and expenses. Include yourself and all children living with you. Do not include other people who are economically independent (for example, people who you do not support, who do not share income with you or your children, and who pay a pro-rated share of expenses).

11. WHAT IF MY INCOME IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME? Provide the average income over a period of time (monthly or annually).

12. WE ARE IN THE MILITARY. DO WE REPORT OUR INCOME DIFFERENTLY? Basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. Cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing must also be included as income. However, if housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is excluded from income.

13. MY FAMILY NEEDS MORE HELP. ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS WE MIGHT APPLY FOR? To find out how to apply for SNAP, TCA, and medical assistance programs or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call 1-800-332-6347.

If you have other questions or need assistance, contact us at (410) 638-4078.

Sincerely,

Kristen Sudzina, SNS

Supervisor of Food and Nutrition Services

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING 2024-2025

Meal Benefit Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Complete the online form using the instructions below. If you need help, call (410) 638-4078.

List the first and last name of everyone in your household, whether they receive income or not. Your household includes all those living as one economic unit. Include yourself, all children living with you, including foster children and any other person living in your household, related or not. List each type of income received last month and how often it is received. You must indicate how much in whole dollars, and how often received (weekly, bi-weekly, twice a month, monthly). If a household member has no income—select No Income.

Report all income as gross income. Gross income is the amount earned before taxes and other deductions. This is not the same as take-home pay. Gross income includes unemployment benefits, Worker’s Compensation, Supplemental Security Income and Veteran’s Benefits, Social Security, private pensions or disability, strike benefits, income from trusts or estates, annuities, investment income, earned interest, rental income, and regular cash payments from outside household. For self-owned business, farm, or rental income, report income as net income.

If you are in the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Do not include combat pay.

Indicate the total number of household members in the space provided.

The form must have the last four digits of the Social Security Number of the primary wage earner or adult who signs unless the adult does not have a Social Security Number. If the adult does not have a Social Security Number, check the box. The last four digits of the Social Security Number are not needed if you listed a Food Supplement Program case number, a Temporary Cash Assistance case number, or if you are only applying for foster children.

SIGNATURE - ALL HOUSEHOLDS COMPLETE All forms must have the signature of an adult household member.

RACIAL/ETHNIC IDENTITY You are not required to answer this question to get meal benefits. This information will help ensure that everyone is treated fairly.

SHARING INFORMATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS Check the boxes to indicate your preference for sharing or not sharing application information with the programs indicated. Your decision will not change whether your children get free or reduced-price meals.

Your child(ren) may be eligible for free meals or reduced-price meals if your household income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines chart shown below.

Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines

For School Year 2024-2025

   Household
    Size                  Year               Month            Week
├──────────────────────────────────┤
│          1          │   $27,861       │  $2,322       │  $536        │
│          2          │   $37,814       │  $3,152       │  $728        │
│          3          │   $47,767       │  $3,981       │  $919        │
│          4          │   $57,720       │  $4,810       │  $1,110     │
│          5          │   $67,673       │  $5,640       │  $1,302     │
│          6          │   $77,626       │  $6,469       │  $1,493     │
│          7          │   $87,579       │  $7,299       │  $1,685     │
│          8          │   $97,532       │  $8,128       │  $1,876     │
├──────────────────────────────────┤
For each                        $9,953│  $830          │  $192
additional
family member add:

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires the information on this application. You do not have to give the information, but if you do not, we cannot approve your child for free or reduced-price meals. You must include the last four digits of the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application. The last four digits of the social security number are not required when you are only applying for foster children, or you list a Food Supplement Program or Temporary Cash Assistance case number, or when you indicate that the adult household member signing the application does not have a social security number. We will use your information to determine if your child is eligible for free or reduced-price meals, and for administration and enforcement of the lunch and breakfast programs. We MAY share your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508- 0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3017 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

mail:

fax:

email:

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The Maryland State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry/national origin, color, disability, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. For Inquiries related to Department policy, please contact:

Equity Assurance Compliance Office
Office of the Deputy State Superintendent for Finance and Administration
Maryland State Department of Education
200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-2595
410-767-0426 - Voice
410-767-0431 - Fax
410-333-6442 - TTY/TDD

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