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Frequently Asked Questions About Applications for Educational Benefits/Free or Reduced Price Meals
Click on the questions below to view the answers. These are the questions that are most frequently asked of the Saint Paul Public Schools' Nutrition Services regarding Educational Benefits.   If you require additional information, please call (651) 603-4950.


  • Who can get free or reduced-price meals?
  • How do I apply for free or reduced-priced meals?
  • A student electronically qualifies for free meals. His sibling does not. Is the sibling automatically qualified for free meals?
  • Will the information I give be checked or verified?
  • Do I have to fill out an application every school year?
  • Do I have to fill out an application for every child?
  • What if my household size or income changes?
  • If someone lives in the home but is not part of the family, does their income get listed on the application?
  • What does "All Other Income" in section 4 of the application mean?
  • If I don't qualify now, may I apply again later?
  • What if I disagree with the decision about my application?
  • How will my information be used?
  • Can I use a regular application for my foster child?
  • What does "temporary free" or "temporary reduced" eligibility mean?
  • What do I do if my "temporary" eligibility has expired?

    • Who can get free or reduced-price meals?
    Children in households participating in Food Stamps, Minnesota Family Investment Plan (MFIP) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and foster children can get free meals regardless of your income. Also, if your household income is within the limits on the Federal Income Chart, your children can get free or reduced-price meals.

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    How do I apply for free or reduced-priced meals?
    To apply for free or reduced-price meals, obtain a blank Application for Educational Benefits/Free or Reduced Price Meals for the current school year. Complete the application and mail to Nutrition Services. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information.  Return the completed application to:  Nutrition Services, 1930 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN  55108 or send it to the school cafeteria with your child.

    The same application can be used for Foster children, children residing in residential institutions, homeless students or refugee students.

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    A student electronically qualifies for free meals. His sibling does not. Is the sibling automatically qualified for free meals?
    Sometimes one child is approved, another is not.  In this case, we must get an Application for Educational Benefits for the sibling.  If you have already turned in an application for one or more children and would like to add another sibling, you may do this by calling (651) 603-4954.

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

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    Do I have to fill out an application every school year?
    Yes.  It is part of the federal guidelines that a new application must be completed every school year.

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    Do I have to fill out an application for every child?
    No.  Nutrition Services asks that only one application per household be filled out unless you are applying for foster children, then only one foster child per application.  See Applications/Foster Child Application.

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    What if my household size or income changes?
    If your children qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on your income, your must tell us if your household size goes down or if your income goes up by more than $50 per month ($600 per year). Call us at (651) 603-4954. You do not have to fill out another application.

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    If someone lives in the home but is not part of the family, does their income get listed on the application?
    Yes, if they contribute to the household expenses.

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    What does "All Other Income" in section 4 of the application mean?
    If you are self-employed, your monthly income would be your net income from self-owned business or farm (gross farm or business income minus farm or business expenses, but before taxes).  Other regular income also includes; disability benefits, cash withdrawn from savings, interest/dividends, income from estates/trusts/investments, regular contributions from person not living in the household, net royalties/annuities, net rental income and any other income.

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    If I don't qualify now, may I apply again 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 Food Stamps or MFIP.  If you lose your job, your children may be able to get free or reduced-price meals during the time you are unemployed.

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    What if I disagree with the decision about my application?
    You may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to:  Jean Ronnei, Director, Nutrition Services, 1930 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN  55108 (651) 603-4950.

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    How will my information be used?
    Privacy Act Statement:  The 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 children for free or reduced-price meals.  The Social Security Number of the adult household member who signs the application is required unless you list Food Stamp or MFIP case numbers for all children you are applying for, OR if you are applying for a foster child.  You must write "none" on the Social Security Number space if the adult household member signing the application does not have a Social Security Number.  A Social Security Number is not required to be provided for other adults listed on the application.  We WILL use your information to see if your children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, to run the program, and to enforce the rules of the program.  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 misuse of program rules.

    If your children are approved for school meal benefits, this information may be shared with MinnesotaCare and General Assistance Medical Care programs to identify children eligible for Minnesota health insurance programs. You may elect not to share this information by checking the box on the front of the Application for Educational Benefits/Free or Reduced Price Meals.

    A student's school meal eligibility status will not be released for any other purposes unless a parent or guardian has consented in writing.

    Households selected for verification must provide the Social Security Number of each adult household member or an indication that he/she does not possess one.  Provision of a Social Security Number is not mandatory but if a Social Security Number is not provided for each adult household member or an indication is not made that he/she does not possess one, benefits will be terminated.

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    Can I use a regular application for my foster child?
    Yes.  Check the box in Section 1 "Households with a Foster Child". List the foster child in Section 2 of the application and under the column "Student's Monthly Income" put the amount of personal income assigned by the court for the foster child.  If there isn't any money assigned by the court, write 0 or none.  This section must be completed and can not be left blank. Complete Section 7, sign the application and date it (for a foster application you do not need to include your social security number).

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    What does "temporary free" or "temporary reduced" eligibility mean?
    At the beginning of the school year, each approved free or reduced student carries over the eligibility they had the previous year for 30 school days. When that expires, if they haven't submitted a new application, they will pay full price for meals.

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    What do I do if my "temporary" eligibility has expired?
    An expired eligibility means your status will go to "Paid" and the student will be asked to pay the full price of the meal.  If your eligibility has expired, call 651-603-4954 to update your status.  You must pay any elementary meals charged between the time the application expired and the time you call Nutrition Services to update your status.

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