Free & Reduced-Price Meals

• Income eligibility information and FAQs for the Free & Reduced-Price Meal Program can be found on the application.

• Households should answer all applicable questions on the form. Applications that do not contain all required information cannot be processed and approved.
• Complete, sign, and return the application to your child’s school. 

• Applications can be submitted at any time during the school year.

• A household’s eligibility for free milk/meals or reduced-price meals is confidential.

Call your child’s school if you need assistance. For translation assistance, please contact Cristina Porras, D15 Translator, at 847-963-3161.

If you receive a letter in mid-July to early August that you have been approved by direct certification, you DO NOT need to fill out an application for free milk/meals or reduced-price meal benefits. Otherwise, A NEW APPLICATION MUST BE FILLED OUT EVERY YEAR.

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FOOD STAMP/TANF HOUSEHOLDS:

Households that currently receive food stamps or "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families" (TANF) for their child(ren) only have to list the child(ren)'s name and food stamp or TANF case number and sign the application. Link card number cannot be used.

ALL OTHER HOUSEHOLDS:

If a household's income is at or below the level shown on the income scale (Income eligibility information and FAQs for the Free & Reduced-Price Meal Program can be found on the application), children are eligible for free or reduced-price meal services. Households must provide the following information: (1) the names of all household members; (2) the Social Security number of the adult household member signing the application, or the word "none" if the adult does not have a Social Security number; (3) the amount of income each household member received last month and where it comes from (wages, child support, etc.); and (4) the signature of an adult household member.

The information on the application may be verified by school or other officials at any time during the school year.

Households may apply for benefits at any time during the school year. Households that are not eligible now but have a decrease in household income, an increase in household size or have a household member that becomes unemployed, should fill out an application at that time.

In certain cases, foster children are eligible for free or reduced-price meal services regardless of household income. Households that have foster children living with them and wish to apply for free or reduced-price meal services should complete the application.