The following questions and answers are in regards to a direct certification letter from New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
1. What if one of the children listed lives in my household, but is not my child?
Kinship is not a factor in establishing the child's eligibility. Fill in the name of the school and grade the child attends and return the direct certification letter to the school.
2. What if one of the children listed is no longer in my household?
Indicate on the letter that the child is no longer in the household, and complete the information for the children who are still in your household. Return the letter to the school.
3. What should I do if one of my children is not listed on the letter?
If there are children in your family whose names do not appear on the direct certification letter, or who are under 4 years of age or over 18 and attend a school that participates in the School Lunch, Breakfast, or Special Milk Programs, you must complete a free and reduced price meal application for the children to receive program benefits. You cannot add names to the direct certification letter.
4. What do I do when my children go to different schools in the same school district?
Send the direct certification letter to the school of one of the children. The school administration will be responsible for making any necessary copies and giving the information to the other schools within the same school district.
5. What do I do when my children go to different schools in different school districts?
You should send the direct certification letter to the school district where most of your children attend school. Attach a note asking the school administrator to send copies of the letter to all of the other schools your children attend.
6. If my child qualifies for free school meals, can he/she get free milk when he/she brings a lunch from home to school?
No. The school cannot give your child free milk in schools where free meals, which include milk, are available to students. The school can give free milk only to its half-day pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students, who are not in school during the meal service, providing the school participates in the Special Milk Program with the free milk program.
7. Can my child, who is home schooled, get a free lunch when he/she makes use of other school facilities?
Federal regulations restrict the availability of the free meals to enrolled school children. Free meals are not available to the home-schooled child.
8. What if no child in my household is old enough to be responsible for getting this letter to the school?
If you are uncomfortable about having a child take the letter to the school, either mail it or take it to the school yourself. The school must have an approved application or direct certification letter on file so it can give your child a free meal or free milk.
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