Effective July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, children in San Mateo  County Office of Education programs are eligible for free or reduced-price meals if the student's household income is less than or equal to the federal guidelines.

If any household members receive benefits from CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR, households do not need to turn in an application after receiving a notification letter saying that their children automatically qualify for free meals. Children who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway or who are enrolled in their school's Head Start program are also eligible for free meals.

Applications will be sent to each eligible household with a letter about the free and reduced-price meal program. Households that want to apply for meal benefits should fill out one application for all children in the household and return it to the school office. The school will let households know if an application is approved or denied. If any child in the household is not on the notification letter, or if the household does not want to receive free or reduced-price meals, a member of the household must contact school officials. 

Effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022

Household size

Year

Month

Twice Per Month

Every Two Weeks

Week

1

$23,828

$1,986

$993

$ 917

$ 459

2

$32,227

$2,686

$1,343

$1,240

$620

3

$40,626

$3,386

$1,693

$1,563

$782

4

$49,025

$4,086

$2,043

$1,886

$943

5

$57,424

$4,786

$2,393

$2,209

$ 1,105

6

$65,823

$5,486

$2,743

$2,532

$ 1,266

7

$74,222

$6,186

$3,093

$2,855

$1,428

8

$82,621

$6,886

$3,443

$3,178

$ 1,589

Households may turn in an application at any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now, but your household income goes down, household size goes up, or a household member starts receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR benefits, you may turn in an application at that time. Information given on the application will be used to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school officials. The last four digits of the Social Security number from any adult in the household or indicating that you do not have a Social Security number is required if you include income on the application.

Households that receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals by filling out an application.

Foster children are eligible for free meals and may be included as a household member if the foster family chooses to also apply for the non-foster children on the same application. Including foster children as a household member may help the non-foster children qualify for free or reduced-price meals. If the non-foster children are not eligible, this does not keep foster children from receiving free meals.

A child’s eligibility status from last school year will continue into the new school year for up to 30 school days or until the school processes a new application, or the child is otherwise certified for free or reduced-price meals. After the 30 school days, the child will have to pay full price for meals, unless the household receives a notification letter for free or reduced-price meals. School officials do not have to send reminders or expired eligibility notices.

If you do not agree with the decision or results of verification, you may discuss it with school officials. You also have the right to a fair hearing, which may be requested by calling or writing the hearing official: Niambi Clay, San Mateo County Office of Education, 650-802-5553.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.