Free & Reduced Applications

USDA waivers allowing for meals at no cost have been discontinued.  We are encouraging each family to complete an application as your children MAY qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

Click Here To Access The Application

Check the Status of Your Application

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Children need healthy meals to learn. Hall County School Nutrition offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.10 in elementary, $1.35 in middle/high; lunch costs $1.95 in elementary, $2.05 in middle/high. Your children MAY qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals. Reduced price is $0.30 for breakfast and $0.40 for lunch. This packet includes an application for free or reduced-price meal benefits and a set of detailed instructions along with information on how completing the application benefits students.

Your child’s approved eligibility for free or reduced-price meals at school may provide an additional benefit for other services available to students in the school district. Examples of these benefits may include college entrance exams or fees offered at no cost or at a reduced cost; certain hearing or vision tests, discounted internet service, ACT, SAT exam fees waived or offered at a reduced cost to students. If you are interested in sharing your child’s approved eligibility with school district administrators please check the sharing eligibility box on the back page of the application form. No other information is shared, only the approved eligibility. Be assured that information on the meal application is kept confidential. Additionally, keep the eligibility notification letter you receive after the meal application has been processed, as it may be used for additional benefits during the school year.

Below are some common questions and answers to help you with the application process.

1. Who can get free or reduced-price meals?

• All children in households receiving benefits from SNAP or TANF are eligible for free
• Foster children under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free
• Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free
• Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if your household’s income is within the limits on 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.

2. How do I know if my children qualify as homeless, migrant, or runaway? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please call or email Hall County HOPE Program homeless liaison 770-967-5846 or Migrant Education Program at 770-534-9123.
3. Do I need to fill out an application for each child? Use one Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Application for all students in your household.
4. Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this school year saying my children are already approved for free meals? No, read the letter you got carefully and follow the If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact Jessica Brooks, 711 Green Street, Gainesville, GA, 770-534-1080, jessica.brooks@hallco.org immediately.
5. Can I apply online? Yes! Visit https://schoolmeals.hallco.org to begin or to learn more about the on-line application process. Contact Jessica Brooks, 711 Green Gainesville, GA, 770-534-1080, jessica.brooks@hallco.org if you have any questions about the online application.
6. My child’s application was approved last Do I need to fill out a new one? Yes. Applications are only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year, through September 16, 2022. If you do not send in a new application that is approved by the school or you have not been notified that your child is eligible for free meals, your child will be charged the full price for meals.
7. I get Can my children get free meals? Please send in an application.
8. Will the information I give be checked? Yes. you may be asked to send written proof of household income you report.
9. If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year.
10. What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application? You should talk to school You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: Eric Radich, 711 Green Street, Gainesville, GA, 770-534-1080, eric.radich@hallco.org.
11. May I apply if someone in my household is not a citizen? Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced-price meals.
12. What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes. If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.
13. What if some household members have no income to report? Household members may not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application or may not receive income at all. Whenever this happens, please write a 0 in the However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeros. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank as we will assume you meant to do so.
14. We are in the military. Do we report our income differently? Basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income.
15. What if there isn’t enough space on the application for my family? List any additional household members on a separate piece of paper, and attach it to your Contact Jessica Brooks, 711 Green St. Gainesville, GA, 770-534-1080, jessica.brooks@hallco.org to receive a second application.
16. My family needs more 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 1-877-423-4746.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Jones, MBA, SNS

Hall County Schools Nutrition Director