Nutrition Services / Free & Reduced FAQ

Free & Reduced FAQ

1. Can I apply online?
- Yes! We encourage applicants to submit online applications! It is safe, secure and confidential, ensures expedient processing, and saves time and resources! Apply online now at https://www.schoolcafe.com/
2. Who can get free or reduced price meals?
- Children in households receiving SNAP, FDPIR, or TANF are eligible for free meals.
- Foster children under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
- Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible. Please call the Migrant Records Manager at 452-2000 x11482 or the Homeless Education Liaison at 452-2000 x 11431 to see if your child(ren) qualifies.
- Children living in households with income within limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines (see an application for income chart).
3. Do I need 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 cannot process an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to: Nutrition Services Center, 1305 Charles Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701.
4. Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this school year saying my children are already approved for free meals?
- Please read the letter carefully and follow the instructions. Bring the ORIGINAL letter to the Nutrition Services Center administrative office located at 1305 Charles Street or to the kitchen manager at the child’s school. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, call or email Nutrition Services immediately.
5. My child’s application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out another one?
- Yes. Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first 30 days of this school year. You must send in a new application unless you have received notification from nutrition services informing you that your child is eligible for the new school year.
6. I get WIC and/or Denali Kid Care. Can my child(ren) get free meals?
- Children in households participating in WIC or Denali Kid Care do not automatically qualify for meal benefits. Please complete and submit an application.
7. Will the information I give be checked?
- Yes, and we may ask for documentation of the household income you report.
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, gross income goes down, or if you start receiving SNAP (Food Stamps), TANF or other benefits.
9. What if I disagree with the determination of my application?
- Please contact Nutrition Services. If you still disagree with the determination, you can contact the FNSBSD’s hearing official, Lisa Pearce, CFO at (907) 452-2000 x11301.
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. What if my income is not always the same?
- List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1000 per month. 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.
12. What if some household members have no income to report?
- Mark 0 or leave blank.
13. We are in the military, how do I report our income?
- Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, or receive Family Subsistence Allowance payments, it must also be included as income. You do not claim BAH if you live on base or post. There is no housing part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative in the FNSB, therefore, BAH must be included as income for those who live off base or post.
- Guidelines on Military Income LES Codes: https://www.k12northstar.org/cms/lib/AK01901510/Centricity/Domain/101/LES%208x11.pdf
14. My spouse is deployed to a combat zone. Is the combat pay counted as income?
- No. If combat pay is received in addition to the basic pay because of deployment and it was not received before he/she was deployed, combat pay is not counted as income. Your spouse is also included as a household member even though he/she is deployed.
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 application.
16. My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for?
- To find out how to apply for other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call 1-800-478-3537.

Last Modified on January 10, 2023

Nutrition Services

Free & Reduced FAQ

1. Can I apply online?

2. Who can get free or reduced price meals?

3. Do I need to fill out an application for each child?

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

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

6. I get WIC and/or Denali Kid Care. Can my child(ren) get free meals?

7. Will the information I give be checked?

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

9. What if I disagree with the determination of my application?

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

11. What if my income is not always the same?

12. What if some household members have no income to report?

13. We are in the military, how do I report our income?

14. My spouse is deployed to a combat zone. Is the combat pay counted as income?

15. What if there isn’t enough space on the application for my family?

16. My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for?