Who can receive free or reduced-price meals?

1. All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF/Colorado Works – Basic Cash Assistance or State Diversion), are eligible for free meals.
2. Foster children under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals. Foster children may be added as household members of the foster family if the foster family chooses to apply. Including foster children as household members may help other children qualify for benefits. If the foster family is not eligible, it does not prevent a foster child from receiving benefits.
3. Children who qualify for their district’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
4. Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
5. Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if their household’s income is within the limits of the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart.

How do I know if my children qualify as homeless, migrant, or runaway? Do the members of your household...

Lack of a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your home meet these descriptions and have not already been notified that your children will receive free meals, please e-mail Ericka De Maquera.

Would you like me to fill out an application for each child?

No. Use one Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Application for all students in your household. We can only approve a complete application, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to Trevor Pedigo.

Should I fill out an application if I receive a letter this school year saying my children are already approved for free meals?

No, but please read the letter you received carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household need to be added to your eligibility notification, you can contact Trevor Pedigo.

Do you know if I can apply online?

Yes! You should complete an online application instead of a paper application if possible. The online application has the exact requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application. Visit Linq Connect to begin or to learn more about the online application process, or contact Trevor Pedigo if you have any questions about the online application.

My child’s application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out a new one?

Yes. Your child’s application is only valid for that school year and for the first 30 days of this school year. You must send in a new application unless the school notified you that your child is eligible for the new school year.

I received WIC. Can my child receive free meals?

Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please send in a completed free and reduced-price school meal application to determine free or reduced-price eligibility.

Do you know if the information I give will be checked?

You may be selected to provide written proof of the household income you report on the application.

If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later?

Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year. 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.

What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application?

It would be best if you talked to school officials. You can also ask for a hearing by contacting Christine Reich.

May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. Citizen?

Yes. You, your children, or other household members must not be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced-price meals. Immigration, migrant, citizenship, or refugee status is not required to be provided during the application process, and families should continue to apply for free or reduced-price school meals. The application does require the last four numbers of a Social Security number or an indication that there is no Social Security number. Social Security number information is not reported to any organization outside Telluride School District.

What if my income is sometimes different? 

Could you list the amount that you usually receive? For example, if you typically make $1000 each month but missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1000 monthly. If you usually get overtime, include it, but do not if you only work overtime sometimes. Use your current income if you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced. The last four digits of the Social Security Number of an adult household member (or an indication of “none”) are required to process a complete income application.

What if some household members have no income to report?

Household members may not receive some income we ask you to report on the application or may not receive payment. Whenever this happens, please write a 0 in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we will assume you meant to do so. The last four digits of the Social Security Number of an adult household member (or an indication of “none”) are required to process a complete income application.

We are in the military. Do we report our income differently?