Meals Frequent Asked Questions

1. Do I need to fill out an application for each child? 
   No. Complete one application to apply for free or reduced-price meals. Use 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:
   Fort Bend I. S. D. Child Nutrition Department
   555 Julie Rivers Drive
   Sugar Land, TX 77478
2. Who can get free meals?  
   Children in households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly the Food Stamp Program) or TANF can get free meals regardless of your income. Your benefit letter from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is your documentation for free meals. If you have not already received a letter from your school stating that your household is eligible for free meals, you may take your HHSC benefit letter to your child nutrition office to be certified for free meals. Call (281) 634-1855 if you have questions.
3. 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?
   In most cases no, however read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions. Call (281) 634-1855 if you have questions. If your household does not receive SNAP or TANF, your children may still be eligible to receive free meals if your household income is less than the amounts listed on the federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Please complete the application and submit it to your child nutrition office. Head Start students and most foster children may also qualify for free meals.
4. Can homeless, runaway and migrant children get free meals? 
   Yes. If you have not been notified of free status under these categories, please call Special Programs (281) 634-1355 to see if your child(ren) qualify.
5. 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, included in this application packet.
6. I get WIC. Can my child(ren) get free meals?  
   Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please fill out an application.
7. Will the information I give be checked?  
   Yes, we may ask you to send written proof.
8. 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.
9. 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:
   
   Gail McIntire-Stotler
   P.O.Box 1004
   Sugar Land, TX 77478-1004
   phone number (281) 634-1855
10. 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.
11. Who should I include as members of my household?  
    You must include yourself and all people living in your household, related or not (such as children, grandparents, other relatives or friends).
12. What if my income is not always the same?  
    List the amount that you normally receive.  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 pay, include that amount as income.  If you do not normally get overtime pay, do not include it as income.
13. 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.