Education & Nutrition Benefits

Free & Reduced Child Nutrition Benefit Application Information

Due to the budget recommendations proposed by Governor Whitmer, the District will again be providing both breakfast and lunch meals to all students without cost to families. However, we are still required to provide and maintain Education & Nutrition Benefits Application (aka, Free and Reduced Lunch Applications), as submitted. A la carte items will be available to purchase if there are funds in the student’s account. The Food Service Department is using MySchoolBucks for all food service purchases.

Families are encouraged to continue to fill out the Free and Reduced Meal/Summer EBT/Educational Benefit Application online. (A new application is required at the beginning of each school year.) Your application ensures that the Troy School District will continue to receive state and federal funding for education. Without this information, Troy Schools could lose important state funding for our programs that our students are entitled to. All information submitted is strictly confidential.

To be considered for other discounts and benefits within Troy School District, request and fill out the Sharing Info with Other Programs form, which allows the district to confidentially share your information to benefit from the following programs:

Pandemic-EBT
Pay to Participate (athletics and clubs)
Annual iPad Insurance
Food Support Programs (weekend backpacks, holiday meals, etc.)
Field Trip Support Programs (reduced rates/scholarships for field trips)
Programs that provide School Supplies and/or assist with School Fees (filled backpacks and supplies from requested supply list, testing fees, financial support for tutoring/summer programs)
Programs that provide Holiday Support (meals, holiday gifts, opportunity for children to shop for gifts at no cost)

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact our Food Service Office at 248-823-5089. Thank you for your support!

Education & Nutrition Benefits Information

Education & Nutrition Benefit Application

Benefits Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about the Education & Nutrition Benefits with the Michigan School Meals Program

Our school offers healthy meals each day. For school year 2025-26, we are joining the Michigan School Meals program. All students can get one breakfast and one lunch free of charge each day at school. Although no application is required to receive this free meal benefit, filling out the Education and Nutrition Benefits Application is still important! Your child(ren) may qualify for other benefits like reduced fees at school. Your application may also help the school qualify for education funds, discounts, and other programs.

WHO CAN GET ADDITIONAL EDUCATION BENEFITS?

All children in households receiving benefits from the Food Assistance Program (FAP), Family Independence Program (FIP), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are eligible.
Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible.
Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible.
Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible.
Children may receive education benefits if your household’s income is within the limits of the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines on this chart.

Federal Income Eligibility Chart for School Year 2025-2026

Household Size	Annually	Monthly	Weekly
1	28,953	2,413	557
2	39,128	3,261	753
3	49,303	4,109	949
4	59,478	4,957	1,144
5	69,653	5,805	1,340
6	79,828	6,653	1,536
7	90,003	7,501	1,731
8	100,178	8,349	1,927
Each additional person:	10,175	848	196

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 have not been told your children will get free meals, please call or e-mail Mrs. Kathy Koncagul at 245-823-4004, or email at kkoncagul@troy.k12.mi,us.

DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD? No. Use one application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to: The Food Service Office, 4420 Livernois, Troy, MI 48098

SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE ALREADY APPROVED THROUGH DIRECT CERTIFICATION? No, but please read the letter you received carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact The Food Service Office at 248-823-5089, or email ngervais@troy.k12.mi.us immediately.

CAN I APPLY ONLINE? You can view the application on line, and you are encouraged to print and complete the application. The online application has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application. Visit http://www.troy.k12.mi.us to begin or to learn more about the application process. Contact Food Services at 248-823-5089 if you have any questions about the online application.

MY CHILD’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW ONE? Yes. Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year, through October 8, 2025. You must send in a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year. If you do not send in a new application that is approved by the school or you have not been notified that your child is eligible, you will not receive additional education benefits, and your school could lose out on additional funding.

I GET WIC. DO I NEED TO COMPLETE AND APPLICATION? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for supplemental benefits. Please send in an application.

WILL THE INFORMATION I GIVE BE CHECKED? Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report.

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 becomes unemployed may become eligible if the 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: Mr. Dan Trudel, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, 4400 Livernois, Troy, MI 48098, or at 248-823-4010.

MAY I APPLY IF SOMEONE IN MY HOUSEHOULD IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN? Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply.

WHAT IF MY INCOME IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME? List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime occasionally. 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 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.

WHAT IF THERE ISN’T ENOUGH SPACE ON THE APPLICATION FOR MY FAMILY? List any additional household members on a separate piece of paper and attach it to your application. Contact the Food Service Office or your child’s school to receive a second application.

MY FAMILY NEEDS MORE HELP. ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS WE MIGHT APPLY FOR? To find out how to apply for Food Assistance Program (FAP) or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office https://newmibridges.michigan.gov/s/isd-partnershiplanding?language=en_US.

If you have other questions or need help, call 248-823-5089. Sincerely, Gayle M. Moran, Troy Schools Food Service Liaison.

How to Apply for Education & Nutrition Benefits

How to Apply for Education & Nutrition Benefits with the Michigan School Meals Program

Please use these instructions to help you fill out the application for Education and Nutrition Benefits with the Michigan School Meals Program. You only need to submit one application per household, even if your children attend more than one school in the Troy School District. The application must be filled out completely to certify your children for education benefits, including Summer EBT. Please follow these instructions in order. Each step of the instructions is the same as the steps on your application. If at any time you are not sure what to do next, please contact Troy Schools Food Service Office, 248-823-5089 or email ngervais@troy.k12.mi.us.

Please use a pen (not a pencil) when filling out the application and do your best to print clearly!

Steps 1 - 4 & Other Information

STEP 1: List all household members who are infants, children, and students up to and including grade 12.

Tell us how many infants, children, and school students live in your household. They do NOT have to be related to you to be a part of your household.

Who should I list here? When filling out this section, please include ALL members in your household who are:

Children age 18 or under AND are supported with the household’s income;
In your care under a foster arrangement, or qualify as homeless, migrant, or runaway youth;
Students attending the Troy School District, regardless of age.

A) List each child’s name. Print each child’s name. Use one line of the application for each child. When printing names, write one letter in each box. Stop if you run out of space. If there are more children present than lines on the application, attach a second piece of paper with all required information for the additional children.

B) Is the child a student at Troy Schools? Mark ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ under the column titled “Student” to tell us which children attend in the Troy Schools. If you marked ‘Yes,’ write the grade level of the student in the ‘Grade’ column to the right.

C) Do you have any foster children? If any children listed are foster children, mark the “Foster Child” box next to the child’s name. If you are ONLY applying for foster children, after finishing STEP 1, go to STEP 4.

Foster children who live with you may count as members of your household and should be listed on your application. If you are applying for both foster and non-foster children, go to step 3.

D) Are any children homeless, migrant, or runaway? If you believe any child listed in this section meets this description, mark the “Homeless, Migrant, Runaway” box next to the child’s name and complete all steps of the application. Homeless, Migrant, Runaway status must be confirmed with the appropriate program staff. If the school district cannot confirm your student’s homeless, migrant, or runaway status, then the school district will contact you to complete an income-based application. You may choose to provide income information now to prevent the school district from potentially needing to contact you later

STEP 2: Do any household members currently participate in SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR?

If anyone in your household (including you) currently participates in one or more of the assistance programs listed below, your children are eligible for free school meals:

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Food Assistance Program (FAP).
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Family Independence Program (FIP).
The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).

A) If no one in your household participates in any of the above listed programs:

Leave STEP 2 blank and go to STEP 3.

B) If anyone in your household participates in any of the above listed programs:

Write a case number for SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR. You only need to provide one case number. If you participate in one of these programs and do not know your case number, contact your MDHHS caseworker.

Go to STEP 4.

STEP 3: List all household members and income for each member

How do I report my income?

Use the charts titled “Sources of Income for Adults” and “Sources of Income for Children,” printed on the back side of the application form to determine if your household has income to report.
Report all amounts in GROSS INCOME ONLY. Report all income in whole dollars. Do not include cents.
- Gross income is the total income received before taxes.
- Many people think of income as the amount they “take home” and not the total, “gross” amount. Make sure that the income you report on this application has NOT been reduced to pay for taxes, insurance premiums, or any other amounts taken from your pay.
Write a “0” in any fields where there is no income to report. Any income fields left empty, or blank will also be counted as a zero. If you write ‘’0’’ or leave any fields blank, you are certifying (promising) that there is no income to report. If local officials suspect that your household income was reported incorrectly, your application will be investigated.
Mark how often each type of income is received using the check boxes to the right of each field.

STEP 3A: Report income earned by children

A) List all income earned or received by children. Report the combined gross income for ALL children listed in STEP 1 in your household in the box marked “Child Income.” Only count foster children’s income if you are applying for them together with the rest of your household.

What is Child Income? Child income is money received from outside your household that is paid DIRECTLY to your children. Many households do not have any child income.

STEP 3B: Report income earned by adults

Who should I list here?

When filling out this section, please include ALL adult members in your household who are living with you and share income and expenses, even if they are not related and even if they do not receive income of their own.
Do NOT include: People who live with you but are not supported by your household’s income AND do not contribute income to your household.
Infants, children, and students already listed in STEP 1.

B) List adult household members’ names. Print the name of each household member in the boxes marked “Names of Adult Household Members (First and Last).” Include college students, unless they are declared independently on taxes (all college students are considered adults). Do not list any household members you listed in Step 1.

C) Report earnings from work. List all income from work in the “Earnings from Work” field on the application. This is usually the money received from working at jobs. If you are a self-employed business or farm owner, you will report your net income. Net income is your income after taxes and deductions have been subtracted.

What if I have multiple jobs? List each job separately by entering your name and income from each job on a new line. Add an additional sheet of paper if necessary.
What if I am self-employed? List income from your business as a net amount. This net amount is calculated by subtracting the total operating expenses of your business from its gross receipts (revenue). Gross receipts or revenue are all the income earned from the sale of any products or services offered.

D) List income from public assistance/child support/alimony. List all income that applies in the “Public Assistance/Child Support/Alimony” field on the application. Do not report the cash value of any public assistance benefits NOT listed on the chart. If income is received from child support or alimony, only report court-ordered payments. Informal but regular payments should be reported as “other” income in the next part.

E) List income from pensions/retirement/all other income. List all income that applies in the “Pensions/Retirement/ All Other Income” field on the application.

F) List total household size. Enter the total number of household members in the field “Total Household Members (Children and Adults).” This number MUST be equal to the number of household members listed in STEP 1 and STEP 3. If there are any members of your household that you have not listed on the application, go back and add them. It is very important to list all household members, as the size of your household affects your eligibility for free and reduced-price meals.

G) Provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number. An adult household member must enter the last four digits of their Social Security Number in the space provided. You are eligible to apply for benefits even if you do not have a Social Security Number. If no adult household members have a Social Security Number, leave this space blank and mark the box to the right labeled “Check if no Social Security Number.”

STEP 4: Contact information and adult signature

An adult member of the household must sign the application. By signing the application, that household member is promising that all information has been truthfully and completely reported. Before completing this section, please also make sure you have read the privacy and civil rights statements on the back of the application.

A) Provide your contact information. Write your current address in the fields provided if this information is available. If you have no permanent address, this does not make your children ineligible for free or reduced-price school meals. Sharing a phone number, email address, or both is optional, but helps us reach you quickly if we need to contact you.

B) Print and sign your name and write today’s date. Print the name of the adult signing the application and that person signs in the box “Signature of adult.”

C) Mail Completed Form to: Troy Schools Food Services, 4420 Livernois, Troy, MI 48098

Optional Information

Share children’s racial and ethnic identities (optional). On the back of the application, we ask you to share information about your children’s race and ethnicity. This field is optional and does not affect your children’s eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals. This information is requested solely for the purpose of determining the State’s compliance with Federal civil rights laws, and your response will not affect consideration of your application and may be protected by the Privacy Act. By providing this information, you will assist us in assuring that this program is administered in a nondiscriminatory manner.

Please return the application directly to your child’s SCHOOL. DO NOT mail, fax, or email completed applications or questions about applications to the USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights or your child’s eligibility will be delayed.

Sharing Information with Other Programs

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON THE SHARING INFORMATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS FORM is for informational purposes only. The form is available by contacting Food Service Department: 248-823-5089, or email ngervais@troy.k12.mi.us.

Dear Parent/Guardian

Based on the information you gave on your Education and Nutrition Benefits Application, your child may qualify for other programs. For the following programs, we must have your permission to share your information. Sending in this form will not change whether your children get free or reduced-price meals.

Yes! I DO want school officials to share information from my Education and Nutrition Benefits Application with:

Pay to Participate (Athletics and Clubs).
Programs that provide food support (weekend backpacks, holiday meals, etc.).
Programs that provide field trip support (reduced rates or scholarships for field trips).
Programs that provide school supplies or assist with school fees (filled backpacks and supplies from the requested supply list, testing fees).
Programs that provide holiday support (meals, holiday gifts, opportunity for children to shop for gifts at no cost).

If you check “Yes” to any or all of the boxes above, please fill out form below. Your information will be shared only with the programs you checked.

List all students:

Child's Name
School

Parent/Guardian Information:

Parent Name (Printed)
Address
Signature
Date

For more information, you may call Food Services at 248-823-5089, or email ngervais@troy.k12.mi.us. Return this form to: Troy Schools Food Service Office, 4420 Livernois, Troy, MI 48098.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement 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: USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, 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:

Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442
Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. USDA Civil Rights Complaint Link: https://www.usda.gov.

Food Resources in Oakland County

The Troy School District believes that no one should go hungry. There are resources of all kinds, right in your community. Use the provided links to find assistance.

Food Finder Interactive Map - Locate local or nearby food pantries.
Gleaners Mobile Pantry - Drive Up Distribution Events
Oakland Livingston Health Service Agency - Community Action Agency
Michigan 211 Food Assistance - Programs and Locations
Forgotten Harvest - Mobile Pantry Locations & Emergency Food Assistance
Food and Other Resources Hotline - 1-888-544-8773
Findhelp.org - Free or Reduced-Cost Resources like, food, housing, financial, etc.