Your school meal application was selected for verification
This is the same guide schools using Trinity POS send with every verification letter. Your school’s letter has your due date and the people to contact; this page explains the rest.
Why did we get this?
Every year, federal rules require schools to check a small number of approved free and reduced-price meal applications — about 3 out of every 100. Most applications are picked at random or because the income on them was close to a limit. Being selected does not mean anyone thinks you did something wrong.
What you need to do
- Send copies of ONE month’s proof of income for every source of income listed on your application, OR
- Send your SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR case letter or certification notice, OR
- If your child is homeless, migrant, a runaway, or a foster child, ask us to confirm it — contact your school office.
What counts as proof
Every paper must show the name of the person who received the money, how much, how often, and the date.
- Jobs — Pay stubs, or a letter from your employer
- Social Security, pensions — Benefit letter or pension award notice
- Unemployment, disability, workers’ comp — Benefit notice or check stub
- Welfare payments — Benefit letter from the welfare office
- Child support, alimony — Court order, agreement, or copies of checks
- Other income — Anything showing the amount, how often, and the date
- No income — A short note on how you cover food, clothing and housing
- Military privatized housing — Letter or lease showing the housing initiative
How to send it
We will never ask for a Social Security number.
- Bring copies to the school office, or mail them.
- Email a clear photo of each page.
- Ask the school office about sending photos from your phone.
What happens next
- If we do not hear from you, we will try to reach you at least once more.
- We write to every family with the result.
- If we do not receive your papers by the due date on your letter, your children will pay full price for meals after a 10-day written notice.
- You can ask for a fair hearing and keep your benefits while you wait for the decision.
- You can apply again at any time during the school year.
Frequently asked questions
No. Federal rules (7 CFR 245.6a) require every school food authority to check a small sample of approved applications each fall — about 3 out of every 100. Most are chosen at random or because the income on them was close to a limit.
No. Your child keeps the current benefit while the school checks. If the result lowers or ends it, you get a letter at least 10 days before anything changes, and you can ask for a fair hearing.
No. You may black out any Social Security number on the papers you send.
Are you a school nutrition director?
Trinity POS draws the verification sample, sends the letters and this guide, collects documents in the parent portal, and builds the FNS-742.