Free meals at school for eligible children, application
According to the law, all students from the first to the 11th grade must be provided with hot meals. But not every parent can pay for food for the baby. Therefore, for privileged categories of citizens, free meals are provided at school.
Who is entitled to free meals?
Each region has its own rules for determining the preferential category of citizens who are provided with free school meals. To find out if you can qualify for unpaid breakfasts and meals, contact your social welfare office. In addition, you can find out information about this type of food in the educational institution.
Free meals at school are provided to children from large and low-income families.
Children can apply for free meals:
- from large families;
- orphans and children who have lost parental care;
- brought up in foster families;
- receiving a survivor’s pension;
- disabled persons;
- in which one of the parents is disabled of group I or II;
- liquidators of the Chernobyl accident;
- growing up in a low-income or single-parent family.
In addition, in some regions, families who are temporarily in a difficult situation may receive benefits for school meals. But for this you need to contact the class teacher and explain the reason why they are not able to pay for the baby’s breakfast and lunch. The teacher will draw up a special act and send it to the guardianship authorities.
You need to write an application for free meals in the name of the director. As a rule, a sample of this document is taken from the educational institution or from the class teacher. In addition, you will need to bring the following:
- copies of the identity cards of the parents;
- marriage or divorce certificate, if any;
- a copy of the baby’s birth certificate;
- a copy of the certificate of a large family;
- certificate of the composition of the family;
- copies of certificates of disability;
- a copy of the certificate of receipt of the survivor’s pension;
- certificate of income.
Keep in mind that you need to submit documents in May so that the child can eat for free from September. If you bring all the certificates from the beginning of the school year, then the baby will not be fed until October.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding, not all children in privileged categories can provide free breakfasts and lunches. For example, families with many children, whose total income is above average, are denied food. But it is worth collecting information if you are legally eligible for free meals. After all, the administration often offers partial payment. And even such discounts will help to reduce the cost of feeding your baby.