FINANCIAL HARDSHIP WAIVER OF FEES APPLICATION PROCESS

1.  Any family who qualifies for the National School Lunch Program, as

created by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Program Act (42 USCS Section 1751 et seq.), shall receive a financial hardship waiver pursuant to Section 37-7-335 of the Mississippi Code. 

2.  Within one week of enrollment, each parent or guardian applying for a financial hardship (full or reduced) waiver of fees must provide documentation of proof of income that would qualify the student for a free or reduced lunch pursuant to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) annual free and reduced lunch eligibility income guidelines by submitting a copy of the Family Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals (which has the effect of an original) to the school principal that includes the following required information:

a.  To receive a financial hardship (full or reduced) waiver of fees for households applying for free and reduced lunches on the basis of income and household size, the parent/guardian applying for the waiver of fees must provide names of all household members; income received by each household member, identified by source of the income (such as earnings, wages, welfare, pensions, support payments, unemployment compensation and social security and other cash income); the signature of an adult household member; and the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application or an indication that he/she does not possess a social security number; or

b.  To receive a financial hardship (full or reduced) waiver of fees for a child who is a member of a food stamp or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) household, the parent/guardian applying for the waiver of fees must provide the child's name and appropriate food stamp or TANF case number; and the name and signature of an adult household member; and

c.  To receive a financial hardship (full or reduced) waiver of fees in lieu of completion of the free and reduced price application, information obtained from the State or local agency responsible for the Food Stamp Program or TANF program which includes the name of the child; a statement certifying that the child is a member of a currently certified food stamp or TANF household; information in sufficient detail to match the child attending school in the school food authority with the name of the child certified as a member of a food stamp or TANF household; the signature or a copy of the signature of the individual authorized to provide the certification on behalf of the Food Stamp or TANF office, as appropriate; and the date.  When the signature is impracticable to obtain, such as in a computer match, other arrangements may be made to ensure that a responsible official can attest to the data. 

3.  The parent/guardian requesting a financial hardship wavier of fees must sign the certification attached to this policy certifying (promising) that all information furnished to the school district is true and correct and providing a social security number for each adult household member or an indication that such member does not have a social security number.  Information provided for a waiver of fees may be verified at any time during the school year to determine if the student qualifies for a waiver of fees.  Written evidence/documentation shall be used as the primary source of information for verification.  Written evidence/documentation to verify the financial information and written confirmation of a household's circumstances must be provided at the time application is made for a waiver of fees and includes such documentation as the following:

1. wage stubs,
2. award letters, and
3. letters from employers. 

A request for a waiver of fees cannot be approved unless it contains the information required by this policy.

4.  Whenever written evidence is insufficient to confirm income information or current eligibility, the school may require collateral contacts, verbal confirmation of a household's circumstances by a person outside the household.  The collateral contact may be made by person or by phone.  The verifying school official may select a collateral contact if the household fails to designate one or designates one that is unacceptable to the verifying school official.  If the verifying school official designates a collateral contact, the contact shall not be made without providing written or oral notice to the household.  At the time of this notice, the household shall be informed that it may consent to the contact or provide acceptable verification in another form.  If the household refuses to choose one of these options, its eligibility for a waiver of fees shall be terminated. 

5.  Information concerning income, household size or food stamp or TANF eligibility maintained by other governmental agencies to which the school can legally gain access may be used to confirm a household's income, size or receipt of benefits.  If a food stamp or TANF case number is provided for a child, verification for such child shall only include confirmation that the child is included in a currently certified food stamp or TANF program. 

6.  Households receiving a wavier of fees must notify school officials during the school year of any decrease in household size and any increases in income of over $50 per month or $600 per year, or in the households that provided a food stamp or TANF case number to establish eligibility for free or reduced meals of any termination of benefits for such children under the Food Stamp or TANF programs. 

7.  Students who qualify for the free lunch program pursuant to the USDA annual free lunch income eligibility guidelines shall receive a complete/full waiver of the fees allowed pursuant to Section 37-7-335 of the Mississippi Code.