Your child(ren) may qualify for free milk/lunch and fee waivers if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart.

FY 2025-2026 Income Eligibility Guidelines

To apply for a Free Milk/Lunch and Fee Waiver, complete the form below and submit it along with the required documentation to our Administration Building after July 1st. District 140’s Administration Building is at 16931 S. Grissom Drive, Tinley Park, IL.

Free Milk/Lunch and Fee Waiver Household Eligibility Application:

• English
• Arabic
• Polish
• Spanish

Required Documentation: 

• If you are receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), Income Eligible Medicaid, or have a Foster Child, and are not listed on D140’s State report, documentation must be provided as proof of receiving assistance. A copy of a letter from the Department of Human Services showing the student(s) name, current address, and a valid case number must be attached to the application. Medical cards do not show proof of receiving SNAP or TANF; therefore, medical cards do not qualify the student for Free Milk/Lunch and the Fee Waiver.
• If your student(s) is on Medicaid, a copy of your 2024 income tax form in which all household members are claimed is required.
• If your student is a Foster Child, you must provide the Business Office with official documentation from the agency sponsoring the child.
• If you are claiming Low Income, a copy of your 2024 income tax form in which all household members are claimed must be attached to your application along with any W-2s or other documentation that indicates the amount of money your household receives from each source of income (including, but not limited to, Paycheck Stubs, Social Security, Pensions, Unemployment, Disability, Workers' Compensation, Welfare Payments, Child Support, Alimony and Rental Income) for each person in the household receiving income.
• If No Taxes were filed, contact IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and request a letter of non-filing. Along with this letter, attach evidence of all current gross income. If you have no income, please provide a letter explaining how you provide food, clothing, and housing for your household.

In accordance with the Policy of the Board of Education, the fee waiver includes all charges for required instructional materials, charges for required field trips, gym suits, and school locks. The waiver does not include graduation fees, library fines, lost or damaged book fees, yearbook fees, camps, charges for school pictures, admission to school social events, and transportation fees.

You will be notified whether your application is approved or not.

Complete one application per household per school district.

If your household receives SNAP or TANF benefits, follow these instructions and return the completed form to your school.

• Part 1: List all household members, school, and grade for each student, as well as a SNAP or TANF case number for any household member, including adults receiving such benefits. (Attach another sheet of paper if necessary.)
• Part 2: Skip this part
• Part 3: Skip this part
• Part 4: Sign the form. The last four digits of your social security number are not necessary.
• Part 5 & 6: Contact information and children’s racial and ethnic identities. Answer these questions if you choose to. (Optional)

If no one in your household gets SNAP OR TANF BENEFITS, and if any child in your household is homeless, a migrant, or a runaway or head start/even start, follow these instructions and return the completed form to your school.

• Part 1: List all household members and the name of the school for each child.
• Part 2: If any child you are applying for is homeless,  a migrant, or a runaway, check the appropriate box and call your school.
• Part 3: Complete only If a child in your household isn't eligible under Part 2. See instructions for All Other Households
• Part 4: Sign the form. Only if Part 3 is completed, please include the last four digits of a Social Security Number or mark the box if s/he doesn't have one.
• Part 5 & 6:Contact information and children’s racial and ethnic identities. Answer these questions if you choose to. (Optional)

If you are applying for a foster child, follow these instructions and return the completed form to your school.

If all children in the household are foster children that are the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court:

• Part 1: List all foster children and the school name for each child. Check the "Foster Child" box for each foster child.
• Part 2: Skip this part.
• Part 3: Skip this part.
• Part 4: Sign the form. The last four digits of a social security number are not necessary.
• Part 5 & 6: Contact information and children’s racial and ethnic identities. Answer these questions if you choose to. (Optional)

If some of the children in the household are foster children that are the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court:

• Part 1: List all household members and the name of the school for each child. Check the "Foster Child" box for each foster child.
• Part 2: If any child you are applying for is homeless, a migrant, or a runaway, check the appropriate box and call your school. 
• Part 3: Follow these instructions to report total household income from this month or last month.
  • Box 1- Name: List all household members with income.
  • Box 2 - Gross income and how often it was received: For each household member, list each type of income received for the month. You must tell us how often the money is received - weekly, every other week, twice a month, or monthly. For earnings, be sure to list the gross income, not the take-home pay. Gross income is the amount earned before taxes and other deductions. You should be able to find it on your pay stub, or your boss can tell you. For other income, list the amount each person got for the month from welfare, child support, alimony, pensions, retirement, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veteran's benefits (VA benefits), and disability benefits. Under All Other Income, list Worker's Compensation, unemployment or strike benefits, regular contributions from people who do not live in your household, and any other income. Do not include income from SNAP, FDPIR, WIC, Federal education benefits and foster payments received by the family from the placing agency. For ONLY the self-employed, under Earnings from Work, report income after expenses. This is for your business, farm, or rental property. If you are in the Military Privatized Housing Initiative or get combat pay, do not include these allowances as income.
• Part 4: Adult household member must sign the form and list the last four digits of their social security number or mark the box if they don't have one. 
• Part 5 & 6: Contact information and children’s racial and ethnic identities. Answer these questions if you choose to. (Optional)

All other households, including Medicaid and WIG households, follow these instructions.

• Part 1: List all household members and the name of the school for each child.
• Part 2: If any child you are applying for is homeless, a migrant, or a runaway, check the appropriate box and call your school. 
• Part 3: Follow these instructions to report total household income from this month or last month.
  • Box 1: Name: list all household members with income.
  • Box 2: Gross Income and how often it was received: For each household member, list each type of income received for the month. You must tell us how often the money is received - weekly, every other week, twice a month, or monthly.  For earnings, be sure to list the gross income, not the take-home pay. Gross income is the amount earned before taxes and other deductions. You should be able to find it on your pay stub, or your boss can tell you. For other income, list the amount each person got for the month from welfare, child support, alimony, pensions, retirement, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veteran's benefits (VA benefits), and disability benefits. Under All Other Income, list Worker's Compensation, unemployment or strike benefits, regular contributions from people who do not live in your household, and any other income. Do not include income from SNAP, FDPIR, WIC, Federal education benefits, and foster payments received by the family from the placing agency. For ONLY the self-employed, under Earnings from Work, report income after expenses. This is for your business, farm, or rental property. Do not include income from SNAP, FDPIR, WTC, or Federal education benefits. If you are in the Military Privatized Housing Initiative or get combat pay, do not include these allowances as income.
• Part 4: Adult household member must sign the form and list the last four digits of their social security number or mark the box if they don't have one. 
• Part 5 & 6: Contact information and children’s racial and ethnic identities. Answer these questions if you choose to. (Optional)

Privacy Act Statement

This explains how we will use the information you give us. The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires the following information on this application: You do not have to give the information, but if you do not, we cannot approve your child for free or reduced-price meals. You must include the last four digits of the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application. The last four digits of the social security number are not required when you apply on behalf of a foster child or you list a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) case number or other FDPIR identifier for your child or when you indicate that the adult household member signing the application does not have a social security number. We will use your information to determine if your child is eligible for free or reduced-price meals and for administration and enforcement of the lunch and breakfast programs. We MAY share your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: 1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or 2. fax:(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or, 3. email: program.intake@usda.gov

Do I need to fill out an application for each child? 

No. Complete the application to apply for free milk/and or meals. Use one Household Eligibility Application for all students in your household per district.  We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to the Administration Building located at 16931 S. Grissom Drive, Tinley Park, IL. 

Who can get free milk and/or meals?

All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and/or are foster children who are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals regardless of your income. Also, your children can get free meals if your household’s gross income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant also qualify for free meals. If you haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please contact your school to see if your child(ren) qualifies.   

A member of my household received SNAP OR TANF benefits. The school sent a letter stating that my child is automatically approved for free meals based on direct certification. Do I need to do anything more to ensure that my child receives free meals? 

Yes. You need to return the Direct Certification form to the Business Department. If you have students not listed on the letter, contact the Business Department immediately. If you do not wish to receive the free meals, you should follow the steps outlined in the form. 

My child’s application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out another 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 the school tells you that your child is eligible for the new school year.  

I get WIC. Can my child(ren) get free meals? 

Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free milk/and or meals. Please fill out the enclosed application.

How do I know if my children qualify as homeless, migrant, or runaway?

Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangement? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please contact your school. 

Will the information I give be checked?

Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof.

If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later?

Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who become unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced-priced meals if their household income drops below the income limit.

What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application?

You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to the person listed above.

May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?

Yes. You or your child(ren) do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply.   

Who should I include as members of my household?

You must include all people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends) who share income and expenses. You must include yourself and all children living with you. If you live with people who are economically independent (for example, people who you do not support, who do not share income with you or your children, and who pay a pro-rated share of expenses), do not include them.

What if my income is not always the same?

List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1,000 each month but missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1,000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes. If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.

What if some household members have no income to report?

Household members may not receive some types of income, which we ask you to report on the application, or may not receive income at all. Whenever this happens, please write a 0 in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we will assume you meant to do so.

We are in the military. Do we report our income differently?

Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.

My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for?

To find out how to apply for SNAP, TANF, or other assistance benefits, contact your local Department of Human Services office or call (800) 843-6154 (voice) or (800) 447-6404 (TTY).