OK, here is the deal. My dh makes pretty good money..but at the present time, he lives in a differ. state ( 4 states away ...15 hour drive ). We are trying to sell our home here, but it has been on the market for a good 2 going on 3 years !...in the mean time, my dh sends me a monthly "allowance" out of his pay...so , to get right to the point, we are living on one income, in 2 households..with another son in college. My ds oiving with me is a jr. in high school..he eats like a saber tooth tiger ! I go thru a good $200 of food ( trying to buy nutrious food like fresh vegs and non processed ) each 2 weeks.

NOw, the allowance I get pays for utilities, college tuition, groceries..gas ( very high here !)..for that point, the groceries are high as well ! At the end of payday..I will be lucky if I have any money left..I am EXTREMELY frugal...I had $2 left over this past pay day to last me a week...after paying for gas and all...

Today, in the mail, I got a free/reduced lunch paper. I have never really been on free lunch, nor my kids..but years ago my ds was on reduced lunch ( 10 cents a day ) because of basically the same situation..My dh was overseas, I was in the US with my 2 children..we had one income, etc. We were approved and I even called to ask if it was "legal " or not

so, I went ahead and filled out the form for free luch..what the heck, they can only deny me. I can't really ask my dh for a "raise"..because he is in the same predicament..he pays for gas to work, his trailer lot rent , elec. food, car insurance, health insurance, etc. My cs ds lives with him as well.

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If I were you, I'd fill out the form and see what happens~

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Oh, I guess I would add that I keep my checking account ledgers..so if they ask for "proof" of to how much I recieve ( btw, do they ask for proof ?)..I can show them I have been getting this amount for the past 2 years...literally, it JUST covers gas, groceries, trash pick up, cable tv and internet, ( we live in the middle of NO WHERE..land of the lost..so this is our entertainment really ) ...oil changes in the truck, etc. My ds also is in band..so he goes on a lot of trips that last for hours..he needs money to eat out..that is really the only time he or I eat out....

Also buy school clothing ( not a lot, just 3 new shirts and shorts this year )..vet care for dog, water bill..etc...I do not live a luxury life at all...

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You can never experience human nature unless you see a child on a merry go round , waving to her parents at every turn..and her parents , always waving back. William D Tammerius

If you need it get it if you don't leave it for those who do.
They don't check anything they just accept the information you put on the sheet.

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we're a family of 6 on one pay check and dh makes too much for the kids to get reduced . It'll be $35 a week for school lunches when they start. here for 4 people you have to be makeing less than 39k a year.

Since you are not divorcing and its only a temporary seperation you need to put in you dh's income not what he gives you. Try and see what happens

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I have worked at school offices before and processed those forms. I was always told do not question anything, just process the form, file it away & make sure the child gets free meals.

I think the income limits are federal, aren't they??

I find these forms to be really confusing. It says on the back of our form that deployed service members are considered a part of the family. Report only that portion of their income made available to the family. Um, wouldn't that be ALL of it??? Also, it says not to include as income Housing allowance that is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative. I guess because it's not taxed??? To me, income is income. If they are not including this, how about not including all other "non taxed" allowances. When deployed to a war zone, no taxes are paid, and the income is not included in the end of the year tallies..... isn't it still income, tho for financial aid purposes???

I'm not attacking anyone, just making an observation.

We don't qualify for free or reduced lunch, even with all "allowances" taken out.

Woops, guess I didn't really answer's OP original ???? I would fill out the form honestly, and leave it up to whoever makes the decision.

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I personally don't think that your family's income is the allowance that your DH gives you, it is what your DH makes in total. I do understand what you're saying about supporting two households and appreicate how difficult that must be, however.

Just my 2 cents.

cj/

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If you and your husband are not divorced or legally seperated and you are living apart by "choice". Then I would say you have to report your full income not just what he sends you. I would answer the form honestly what he makes is your families full income.

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This is not always true. Since this is a federally funded program, a percentage of the forms are pulled for federal verification. In this case the parent must prove what they put as income on their forms.

Also, if the school suspects that the situation is different than what the parent puts on the form they can request that the application be verified for "cause" (ie-parent drives a nice new Mercedes Benz and puts on the form that they make $100 a week, or parent puts down that father does not live in the household but they see him at school on a regular basis)

Not judging anyone here, just giving you the facts as they are in my area.

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After reading CJ's reply, I think I was not understanding your post. Are you wanting to only include the "allowance" you get??? If so, no, I don't think you should qualify. Also, the way I am reading your 2nd post about the expense of your child being in Band, that's not a reason to qualify either. I'm in the same boat, and I would not expect to get free or reduced lunch because of it. That's like buying a bigger house than a person can afford, and expecting to get a break on something just because you're paying out so much.

If this is correct, then NO, I don't think you are entitled to free lunch/reduced lunch by using just your "allowance" money to qualify.

A good rule of thumb I use: "let your concious(sp) be your guide"

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Well, I already mailed the form. I put down that my ds and I live on the "allowance" my dh gives us...and that is to me as honest as I can be without it being confusing.

In answer to the one person about military..our situation was..back in 1994-95..we were living in Cuba with dh on a navy base. The base was being "taken over" by roving bands of Haitians..so the govern. ordered an evacuation of all us service dependents. My dh had to stay on the base. The military paid for us to fly to the us and gave us NO KIDDING...$1,500 and good luck wishes. I had NO MONEY. The Navy told us before we left, they would give us a monthly allowance which was NOT our dh's paychecks ( since our dhs still had to maintain a household in Cuba...car payments, groceries, insurance, etc )..we, as dependents..would get money to rent cars, apts, groceries, furniture ( we only got 2 suitcases to bring back with us to the states..we left Cuba to fly to Va..I had to buy a new wardrobe of winter clothing for my ds to go to school )..

WE GOT NOTHING! I had to borrow money from my dad to pay rent, etc. I could not even afford to drive to the nearest military base to get meds for my ds ( ritalin )..since my car was in Cuba and we NEVER got the money to rent a car that the gover. promised us. The school nurse and another official came to my apt ( imagine this..I had NO furniture except for a dingy upholstered chair from Goodwill and a tv my mom and dad lent me )..to ask what was up..why my ds was not on meds. I broke down and explained it all..they told me to get reduced lunch and just let the school know how much WE WERE getting...not how much my dh made..

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I also wanted to add, and this is true..that when the kids go to band outings ( sometimes these are a good 2 hour drive..they get home at one am or so..waaaay past dinner time )...my ds is the ONLY kid who brings like $5 with him for a meal out...If he gets $7 consider him lucky...MOST of the kids ( who I know are on free lunch ) bring $20's or $50's...they have brand name clothing and the moms drive new SUV's...My ds would always ask me for more money..but I told him I can only afford $5 a pop ( these trips will be every Friday so I need a good $20 a month to just get him a few dollar items from McD's ) meanwhile..the "poor kids" are running into the gas stations they stop at to use the bathroom and coming out with hand fuls of cokes, chips, etc..I have seen this since I have been a band mom before and went along with the kids..

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You can never experience human nature unless you see a child on a merry go round , waving to her parents at every turn..and her parents , always waving back. William D Tammerius

OT, sort of, but, what did you do when your DH was deployed?? I am guessing you had an American bank??? DH hasn't seen a paper pay check in, oh, gosh, over 15 years. This is interesting to me, I have never known of something like this. I am not saying it did not happen, I just have not heard of anything like this. I thought the service member always got paid, unless we run into one of those pesky Fiscal Year budget things.

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Alot of us are in this situation. Is band mandatory? If not (just like my dd's orchestra), then I suck it up and pay for things.

Also, my 14 yr old dd works. She babysits. I give her money for trips such as $5-10 and if she wants more, she uses HER money. Can your son get a job to help out?

In May 1994, Operation Sea Signal began and the naval base was tasked to support Joint Task Force 160, here providing humanitarian assistance to thousands of Haitian and Cuban migrants. In late August and early September 1994, 2,200 family members and civilian employees were evacuated from the base as the migrant population climbed to more than 45,000 and the Pentagon began preparing to house up to 60,000 migrants on the base. The last Haitian migrants departed here Nov. 1, 1995. The last of the Cuban migrants left the base Jan. 31, 1996. In October 1995, family members were authorized to return, marking an end to family separations. An immediate effort began to restore base facilities for family use, including a child development center, a youth center, two schools and Sunday school. Additionally, the revitalization of Boy and Girl Scout Camps and the Guantanamo Bay Youth Activities (a free sports program for children) was enacted.

We did have an " American bank " ( Navy Federal credit union which we still have ) HOWEVER,..anyone who knows anything about military pay..my dh was a 2nd class in the Navy...I think E-5..we lived on base..we ONLY got enough to SQUEAK by each month.. With dependents moving back to the US...we could not bring our babies cribs ( my ds was 2 ) or cars, pots and pans, nothing to set up house back in the states..what they did with Katrina was what they were SUPPOSED to do with us, give us a stipend, a place to live..our dh's pay was going towards groceries, car payments, etc...does this make sense ? In other words, imagine if tomorrow you and yours will have to leave the US & fly to China..you have a baby but you cannot bring but 2 suitcases each...no bikes, not your car, not your pots and pans, ironing boards...how would you live ? Your dh cannot support 2 households on military E-5 pay...

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You can never experience human nature unless you see a child on a merry go round , waving to her parents at every turn..and her parents , always waving back. William D Tammerius

Really, my ds cannot get a job...although he would LOVE one..we live in no wheresville, WV..there is ONLY a walmart which is always gettng applications..only gig in town..there is really nothing here..it is Appalachia..

Band is not mandantory, but it is a way to help him get into college by having a well rounded application..band today for instance lets out at 8 pm..he has to be in school by 7:30 am tomorrow morning..Even if we get free lunch , I will still not give my ds more than $7 to eat out with band..

Get this..at band camp...the "poor kids" on food stamps would *ORDER PIZZA* to be delivered to the camp EVEN THOUGH the band camp gave 3 meals a day..the free lunch kids did not eat it..they ordered pizza, which made my ds want pizza too. I budgeted out $6 a day in envelopes for my ds to spend while at band camp for the week...for cokes, candy, etc.

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You can never experience human nature unless you see a child on a merry go round , waving to her parents at every turn..and her parents , always waving back. William D Tammerius

What difference does it make if you did? LOL. Cubmom2 said in her original post that she's already DONE it so what's the point in her thread title? (would I? should I? get free lunch for my ds ?) She already sent it in the form so of course, she WOULD. Anybody with any decency knows the answer to whether she SHOULD so this thread would be better named 'Watch Me Beat the System!'.

[quote=cubmom2;3035549]I'm not even going to tell you everything that's wrong with your post. If you can write something like this, you're too far gone morally for anything anybody says to matter. I really love the part about where you only count your 'allowance' as income, though! All of your DH's salary is 'income' but nothing like rationalization, huh? Spending $200 a week on groceries, a homeowner, college tuition, won't get a job yourself to help support your family? And you want the taxpayers to provide your child with free lunch!

Never occurred to you to get to get a job yourself, huh and make your household a TWO income family? Earn money on the internet? Have a yard sale? Sell your computer? NOT spend $200 a week on food? Lower your asking price of your home so it will sell? Consolidate your two households? Anything at ALL before you start welshing off society?

It's people like you that ruined what was originally a good idea. The free lunch program was intended to make sure every child received a nutritious meal but unfortunately, the bums jumped on board and now the taxpayers foot the bill for many parents that CAN afford food and just want to keep their own money for themself instead of lowering their lifestyle.

Congratulations to you! You WILL beat the system and they'll send your form through without even looking a it but no, you're not entitled to it - morally or legally. It's wrong for someone in your position to even try to obtain public assistance but hey, we wouldn't want you to get up off your butt and work for a living like the rest of us! That might limit your browsing here at My Coupons and God knows, posting on a message board is a much more important use of your time than taking care of your family! Just let the taxpayers do that for you and you won't have to limit your extracurricular activities at all. (like posting garbage on message boards)!

First of all, I do not NOT spend $200 a WEEK on food, I spend around $200 every 2 weeks on groceries for a growing teen son and myself, dog, etc. Where we live, in the mountains, food is VERY expensive...gas right now is $3.75...in Fla it is $3.55 and in Va $3.44...

Maybe you MISSED my post above, where I said I have never had my children on free lunch..JUST reduced and that was for the evac period ( one year )..while MY dh was in the military protecting YOUR trifling rear..

I do NOT give my ds $6 a DAY for candy and cokes...If you READ where I posted..I BUDGETED out $6 a day for the WEEK he was in band camp..which btw, caused me to only have $2 left for the remainder of this pay period, 10 days...Band camp involved marching and standing in the HEAT of August until 11 at night and my ds worked very hard so YES..for the WEEK he got to spend $6 a day..oh, and , btw..I got THAT money from the state of Fla where they have money you did not know about..I got $200 back which dated back a good 21 years..I used most to pay MY BILLS and I gave my hardworking boy $6 a day for ONE WEEK.

I ALSO stated that on FRIDAYS that the band TRAVELS he will get $5 to spend for dinner out...NOT A DAY..EVERY FRIDAY...so, before you blow hot air out of your ass, you better read the fine print. & as far as taxpayers...I have been paying taxes probably longer than you are alive..so don't give me that hogwash.

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You can never experience human nature unless you see a child on a merry go round , waving to her parents at every turn..and her parents , always waving back. William D Tammerius

If they ask for proof you will have to bring in a copy of your DH's LES (leave and earnings statement for those who are not military). That will show your "income" and will decide whether your family is eliglible or not. Regardless of whether you are supporting one or two households. I am not sure what the penalties are for falsification of forms? It is a Federal porgram.

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oh, and btw...speaking of taxes..I have to DRIVE my ds to school each day...even though I PAY TAXES for the school bus, it will not drive up the mountain to pick him up ( too steep..) sooo *I* the TAX PAYER drive my ds to school and back each WEEKDAY to the cost of $20 a week...so take that into account.

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You can never experience human nature unless you see a child on a merry go round , waving to her parents at every turn..and her parents , always waving back. William D Tammerius

How far up is said mountain?
Can't he walk down to meet the bus or can't you drive him down to meet it? (depending on distance of course)

I also pay taxes for the school bus which my oldest dd does use but not my youngest. I think you are allowing your emotions to get the better of you and that you are forgetting these are things we all pay for. We all pay higher gas, food and educational costs. But, what I think is wrong is you not including all of your income on your sheet you submitted.

When he is at school, can you not find a part-time job?

My pride would not allow me to get free/reduced lunch for my children. But that's me and who I am. I was brought up poor. We qualified for free lunch but my mother would always send us with lunch money. We never NOT had anything. Even if she couldn't afford lunch, she packed us one. We never went hungry and that was with 3 older brothers, myself, and my parents. My mother didn't work (she didn't drive either) and my dad was a propane gas deliverer. When he retired in 1992, he was making $32,000 a year. TOTAL income for all of us, so you figure when we were all home, he wasn't making nearly that much either.

And, it's not that long ago. I graduated high school in 1991.