School Meal Application

School Nutrition Services Free and Reduced Meal Application


Applications must be submitted every year to qualify for free/reduced priced meals.
Apply Now Online


Any student attending a school that participates in the National School Meal Programs can receive a meal at school. Children from low-income families are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. Participating schools receive federal funds for each breakfast and lunch served. 

North Penn School District, School Nutrition Services has moved to an online school meal application! School meal applications can be submitted online using the link above. Applications are available in (6) languages; English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, and Chinese. Click play below to view our two (2) minute video on "how to complete your school meal application on School Cafe". You can also view our SchoolCafe Eligibility Quick Card for detailed instructions. 

 

Don't have access to a computer?  Paper copies are available in all school main offices and at the Educational Services Center (ESC). You may also download the application and instructions by clicking the links below: 

 

School Meal Application Household Information Letter

School Meal Application Instructions

School Meal Applications for the 2023-24 School Year

Free/Reduced Confidentiality
Sharing Information with Other Programs Consent Form (optional)

 

Click here to translate the application to another language

The meal application is completely confidential. Free or reduced eligibility is based on income eligibility guidelines that are determined by the United States Department of Agriculture.

2023-24 School Year Federal Income Eligibility Requirements

 

Please note:  Last year's status expires on October 12, 2023! Each year families must reapply for meal benefits.

Who is Eligible for Free and Reduced-Priced School Meals?
> Children in households with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for free school meals.
> Children in households with incomes between 130 to 185 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for reduced-price school meals and can be charged no more than 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch.
> Children in households participating in the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations as well as foster youth, migrant, homeless, or runaway youth, and Head Start participants are "categorically eligible" for free meals.
> Children from families with incomes above 185 percent of the federal poverty level may purchase a "paid meal." Prices for paid meals are set by grade level and can be found under "meal prices."

Learn more about Comcast's reduced price Internet Essentials access

P-EBT Information

 

Family Guide
Summer P-EBT FAQ's

Important Information About Continuing Extra Benefits in Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health  Emergency

Due to the COVID-19 health emergency, children who are eligible for free or reduced-priced meals at school
will receive extra food benefits to cover the period of the summer of 2023. These food benefits are called
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer or P-EBT benefits. P-EBT benefits help families in Pennsylvania buy food
during the summer. The child listed on this letter will receive the Summer P-EBT benefit.
Your child is eligible for this program because the school has informed us that your child was enrolled at the
school through the end of the previous school year and your child was eligible for free or reduced-price meals
through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or became eligible over the summer on or before June 30,
2023.
There is no application for P-EBT. You do not need to do anything to get these benefits!

Who is eligible?
A child will get Summer P-EBT benefits if:
1. The school participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP); AND
2. The child was eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the NSLP during the 2022-2023 school
year or became eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the NSLP between June 1, 2023 and
June 30, 2023; AND,
3. The child was enrolled at the school during the previous school year (at least during May 2023).

Are children in homeschool or cyber charter school eligible for P-EBT?
No. Federal law does not provide P-EBT for children that are home schooled, attend a cyber charter
school, or are enrolled in a school that does not participate in the NSLP. This also includes school districts’
virtual academies that were in place prior to the pandemic as these academies are not considered to be
participating in the NSLP. See Section 1101 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

When will Summer P-EBT benefits be issued?
Benefits will be issued to regular EBT cards and previously issued P-EBT cards if the Department of Human
Services (DHS) is able to match your child to a previous issuance for either the 2020-2021 or 2021-2022
school year. If we are not able to match your child to a previous issuance, a new P-EBT card will be
mailed. The new P-EBT card will be mailed by August 11, 2023, and should be received by the end of
September 2023 at the latest.

How much is the Summer P-EBT benefit?
The benefit amount for Summer P-EBT has been set by federal law at $120 per child. This is to cover the
months of June, July, and August 2023.

How are Summer P-EBT benefits issued?
On your household EBT Card - If your student is currently receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, the Summer P-EBT benefit
will be added to your card, if possible.
On a white P-EBT card for each child – If we can’t add the Summer P-EBT benefit to a card you already
have, then we will try to issue to your child’s previous P-EBT card for the 2020-2021 or 2021-2022
school year, if possible. If we cannot match your child successfully to a previous issuance, we will send
you a new white P-EBT card that says “Pennsylvania” on the front. If you have multiple children in your
household, you will receive multiple white P-EBT cards, one for each eligible child. Each card will be in
the name of the respective child. The card will be in a plain white envelope addressed to the child with
a return address in Texas.

Where can I get more information?
For more information about P-EBT, please visit: https://www.dhs.pa.gov/coronavirus/Pages/P-EBT-Guide.aspx

How do I set up a card when I receive it?
To start using the P-EBT card: Call the phone number on the back of the card. You will need the P-EBT
card number on the front of the card, your zip code, and the date of birth of the child listed on the card.
IMPORTANT! USE YOUR ZIP CODE FOR YOUR SSN: When asked for the last four digits of your Social
Security Number, you will need to enter the last four numbers of your five-digit zip code. When asked for
your date of birth, you will need to enter the child’s date of birth. You will need to set a four-digit PIN.
Once activated: The card can be used to buy eligible food items anywhere SNAP/EBT cards are
accepted. Although the card is in the name of your child, your child does not need to be present when
using the card.

Are there rules about what I cannot do with the card? What if I don’t want the benefit?
P-EBT cards cannot be transferred, given away, traded, or sold. Doing so is considered fraud and you can
be prosecuted. If you do not wish to be a part of this program, simply shred and throw away the P-EBT card.

How long do I have to use my card?
After nine months of inactivity, we will remove the Summer P-EBT benefits from your account. Removed
benefits cannot be replaced.

Where do I get my balance information?
To find out your P-EBT or Access card balance 24/7, call 1-888-EBT-PENN (1-888-328-7366).

Will this affect my other benefits?
No. Summer P-EBT will not have any effect on your regular SNAP and TANF benefits. You will continue to
receive your monthly SNAP or TANF benefit on your regular payment day.
You may review your benefits online at www.compass.state.pa.us.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.