Free, reduced-price meal applications now available to Downey Unified students

DOWNEY – Downey Unified announced that it is again participating in the policy to serve nutritious meals every school day under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and Afterschool Snack Program.

Effective July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, all students will receive nutritious school meals (breakfast and one lunch) free of charge regardless of the meal status. Second lunches may be purchased. 

Children are eligible for free or reduced-price meal status if the household income is less than or equal to the federal guidelines.  Regardless of the meal status, all students will receive free school meals. Your meal status, however, may qualify you for other benefits. Please see scale below to determine eligibility for free or reduced-price meals, snacks and milk. (Please visit www.DUSDeats.net for the full guideline and to fill out an application today.)

Households do not need to turn in an application when the household receives a notification letter saying that all children automatically qualify for free meals when any household member receives benefits from CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR. Children who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway, and children enrolled in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals. Contact the Food Services Department if any child in the household is not on the notification letter. The household must let Food Services Department know if they do not want to receive free or reduced-price meals.

Paper applications may be picked up with a letter about the free and reduced-price meal program. Households that want to apply for meal benefits must fill out one application for all children in the household and give it to the Food Services Department located at the Downey Unified School District (11627 Brookshire Ave., Downey, 90241). For a simple and secure method to apply, use the online application at https://fsonline.dusd.net. Contact Downey Unified’s Food Services Senior Secretary, Marisol Alarid. at (562) 469-6674 for help filling out the application. The Food Services office will let you know if your application is approved or denied for free or reduced-price meals. 

Households may turn in an application at any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now but your household income goes down, household size goes up, or a household member starts receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR, you may turn in an application at that time. Information given on the application will be used to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school officials. The last four digits of the Social Security number from any adult household member or marking that you do not have a Social Security number is required if you include income on the application.

Households that receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals by filling out an application.

Foster children are eligible for free and reduced-price meals and may be included as a household member if the foster family chooses to also apply for the non-foster children on the same application. Including foster children as a household member may help the non-foster children qualify for free or reduced-price meals. If the non-foster children are not eligible, this does not keep foster children from receiving free meals.

If you do not agree with the decision or results of verification, you may discuss it with school officials. You also have the right to a fair hearing, which may be requested by calling or writing the hearing official: Dr. Robert Jagielski, Senior Director of Student Safety, Wellness, and Engagement, 11627 Brookshire Ave., Downey, 90241, (562) 469-6564.

Please contact Downey Unified’s Food Services Department at (562) 469-6674 for more information. Downey Unified, USDA and the California Department of Education are equal opportunity providers and employers.