Free & Reduced-Price Meal FAQ

Why apply for free or reduced-price meals?

Signing up for free and reduced-price school meals is very important for both students and their schools. Aside from providing proper nutrition to students, free and reduced-price meals can secure additional funding for your school and provide additional benefits for families. Families must reapply every year. 

There are many benefits associated with receiving free or reduced-price meals:

• Eligible children may be automatically qualified to receive retroactive benefits, including a Pandemic EBT card with funds to buy groceries.
• Families who qualify may be eligible for free and discounted services, such as discounted broadband via the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.
• Free or reduced-price meal applications are tied to supplemental educational funding that helps our schools.
• Schools receive additional funding for educational support services based on the number of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

How do I apply for free and reduced-price meals?

For fastest processing, families can apply online at www.mealappnow.com/mantac at any time during the school year. 

Applications can also be downloaded and returned to this address:

Nutrition Services
Attn: Patsy Neas
3321 S. Union Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98407

Paper applications must be submitted in original format. No photocopies, faxes or emails. 

Only one application is required per household. Nutrition Services will notify families by mail if the application is approved or denied. If any child you are applying for is homeless (McKinney-Vento), or migrant, check the appropriate box. 

If families have already received a qualification letter for the ‘20-‘21 school year, then they do not need to fill out an application.

Tacoma Public Schools does not share Free & Reduced Meal data without parent consent.

Downloadable applications:

English 

Spanish 

Russian 

Ukranian  

Korean 

Vietnamese  

Cambodian (Khmer) 

Questions? Contact Nutrition Services at (253) 571-3370 or nutritionservices@tacoma.k12.wa.us.

​FAQs - Free & Reduced Price Meal Application

Who should fill out an application?

Families should fill out the application if:

• Total household income is the SAME or LESS than the amount in the chart below.
• They receive Basic Food, take part in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) for their children.
• They are applying for foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court.

What counts as income? Who is considered a member of a household?

Look at the income chart below. First, find your household size, then find your total household income. If members in the household are paid at different times during the month and you are unsure if your household is eligible, fill out an application and we will determine your income eligibility for you. The information you give will be used to determine your child's eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.

Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals regardless of personal use income. If you have questions about applying for meal benefits for foster children, please contact us at 253-571-3370.

USDA Child Nutrition Program Income Guidelines

Effective July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021

Household size	Annual	Monthly	Twice Per Month	Every two weeks	Weekly
1	$23,606	$1,968	$984	$908	$454
2	$31,894	$2,658	$1,329	$1,227	$614
3	$40,182	$3,349	$1,675	$1,546	$773
4	$48,470	$4,040	$2,020	$1,865	$933
5	$56,758	$4,730	$2,365	$2,183	$1,092
6	$65,046	$5,421	$2,711	$2,502	$1,251
7	$73,334	$6,112	$3,056	$2,821	$1,411
8	$81,622	$6,802	$3,401	$3,140	$1,570
For each additional family member, add:	$8,288	$691	$346	$319	$160

HOUSEHOLD is defined as all persons, including parents, children, grandparents, and all people related or unrelated who live in your home and share living expenses. If applying for a household with a foster child, you may include the foster child in the total household size.

HOUSEHOLD INCOME is considered to be the income each household member received before taxes. This includes wages, social security, pension, unemployment, welfare, child support, alimony, and any other cash income. If including a foster child as part of the household, you must also include the foster child's personal income. Do not report foster payments as income.

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

Yes. Your child's application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year. You must send in a new application unless you received notification from the Nutrition Services department of eligibility for the new school year.

Are newly eligible families able to apply and receive benefits?

Yes. Families who have not yet applied but are eligible are encouraged to apply. In addition, if a family was not eligible in the beginning of the school year but their situation has changed (such as having experienced a decrease in household income, an increase in household size, become unemployed, or now receive Basic Food, FDPIR or TANF) and they may now be eligible, they are encouraged to apply. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year.

What must be on the application?

Depending on your family’s situation, certain parts of the application may not be required. 
A.    For households not getting any assistance:

• Student names(s)
• Names of all household members
• Income source for all household members
• Adult household member’s signature
• Last 4 digits of social security number of the adult household member who signs the application (or if adult signing does not have a social security number, check the associated box). 

Complete parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; part 6 is optional.

B.    For households with only foster child(ren):

• Student name(s)
• Adult household member signature

Complete parts 1 and 5; part 6 is optional. You may also send the school a copy of the court documentation showing the foster child(ren) was/were placed with you instead of filling out an application form. 

C.    For households receiving Basic Food/TANF/FDPIR:

• Student(s) names
• Which program you are receiving benefits from
• Case number
• Adult household member’s signature

Complete parts 1, 2, 4, and 5; part 6 is optional. Last 4 digits of SSN are not required.

D.    For households with foster child(ren) and other children:

• Follow the directions for “A. For households not getting any assistance” 
• Include foster child(ren) and their personal use income
   

1. For households not getting any assistance:

• Student name(s)
• Names of all household members
• Income by source for all household members
• Adult household member's signature
• Last 4 digits of social security number of the adult household member who signs the application (or if the adult signing does not have a social security number, check the associated box).
  
  Complete Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; Part 6 is optional.For households with only foster child(ren)

1. Student's name

Adult household member signature

Complete Parts 1 and 5; Part 6 is optional. You may also send the school a copy of the court documentation showing the foster child(ren) was/were placed with you instead of filling out an application form.

C. For a family getting Basic Food/TANF/FDPIR:
List all student names
Enter a case number
Adult household member's signature

Complete Parts 1, 2, 4 and 5. Part 6 is optional.
Last 4 digits of SSN are not required for C.

D. For households with foster child(ren) and other children:

Apply as a household and include foster child(ren). Follow the directions for "A. For households not getting any assistance" and include the foster child's personal use income. 

Please contact Nutrition Services immediately at 253-571-3370 or nutritionservices@tacoma.k12.wa.us if you have questions about how to report certain income, feel your child or children should be receiving free meals and are not, or have any other question about Nutrition Services or your child's application.

Proof of Eligibility

The information you provide may be verified at any time. You may be asked to send additional information to prove your child is eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.

Fair Hearing

If you do not agree with the decision on your child's application or the process used to prove income eligibility, you may talk with Assistant Director of Facilities Paul Harris, the hearing official. You have the right to a fair hearing which may be arranged by calling the school district at 253-571-3370.

Reapplication

You may reapply for benefits at any time during the school year. If you should have a decrease in household income, an increase in household size, become unemployed, or receive Basic Food, FDPIR or TANF, you may be eligible for benefits and can contact Nutrition Services at 253-571-3370.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FAMILIES MAY QUALIFY FOR

• Basic Food - Basic Food is the state's food stamp program. It helps households make ends meet by providing monthly benefits to buy food. Getting Basic Food is easy! You can apply in person at the local DSHS Community Service Office, by mail, or online. There are other benefits too. You can learn about Basic Food by calling 1-877-501-2233 or by logging on to www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/community-services-offices/basic-food.
   
• WIC - If you have younger children, you may also qualify for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which provides food assistance to children up to the age of 5 and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers: www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/WIC.
   
• Health Coverage - To inquire about or apply for health care coverage for kids in your family, please visit www.wahealthplanfinder.org or you may call Washington Health Plan Finder at 1-855-923-4633.