The document provides information about pre-approving applications for meal benefits in Orange County Public Schools. It outlines the pre-approval process, including reviewing applications for accuracy and completeness, determining eligibility based on federal income guidelines, and automatically qualifying certain students. The goals of pre-approval are to support families and schools during the application process and help the district process applications faster.

1. Pre-Approval Meal Benefits
Application Training

2. Pre-Approval for Meal Benefits
• Pre-Approval for Meal Benefits is processed
when a new or a qualifying student has a
status of "Paid" .
• It is the responsibility of the pre-approved
processor(s) to determine when to pre-
approve an application.
• Pre-approving an application DOES NOT mean
the application is approved.

3. Training Goals:
• Support families and schools to make the
annual application process as smooth as
possible.
• To provide high levels of customer service to
schools and households.
• To help the district process applications faster
during the school year.

4. Pre-approval process
• The student must have a paper application completed.
• The pre-approval person(s) needs to review the application
for accuracy.
– The pre-approval checklist is used as a guide to pre-approve
applications.
• Please take time to review that the application is complete, legible,
and that the income is within the federal guideline limits (the FNS
Manager has a copy of the 2012-2013 Federal Income Guidelines
pertaining to Free and Reduced-Price Meals).
• A copy must be sent to the Free and Reduced department
by courier, email, or Fax.
– meal.applications@ocps.net
– Fax (407) 317 - 3714
– It is required that a copy is given to the FNS Manager of the signed pre-approved meal
application.

5. Pre-Approval Application Checklist
The following instructions are required for pre-approving applications.
• Box 1 - Complete with all students in the household
• Box 2 – Enter the 10 digit case number for SNAP or TANF . SNAP numbers
always begin with a 10, 11, 12, or 13. If a household does not receive SNAP
or TANF benefits, they do not have to complete Box 2

6. Pre-Approval Application Checklist
• Box 3 – Identify if the applicants are Homeless, Migrant, and Runaway
• Box 4 – List all house hold members.
– Household members with no income, “Zero income box must be checked”.
– Household members with income, “income must be entered under the correct income
type” for each household member.

7. Pre-Approval Application Checklist
• Box 5 – Signature
– Signature of the adult household member (required).
– The last 4 digit of the social security number unless the box “I do not have a
Social Security number” is checked. SNAP or TANF households are not
required to provide the last 4 digits of the social security number.
– First name, last name, address, and telephone number.

8. Pre-Approval Application Checklist
• Pre-Approval (For School officials use only)
– Signature of the pre-approval person.

9. Federal Meal Benefit Income Guidelines 2012-2013
• The following chart displays which application can be pre-approved under
the "Free" status if their income falls within these guidelines.
Income = Total income before
taxes or deductions, social
security, welfare, child
support, any income
Monthly = income X 12
Every 2 weeks = income X 26
Twice Monthly = income X 24
Weekly = income X 52

10. Federal Meal Benefit Income Guidelines 2012-2013
• The following chart displays which application can be pre-approved under
the “Reduced" status if their income falls within these guidelines.
Income = Total income before
taxes or deductions, social
security, welfare, child
support, any income
Monthly = income X 12
Every 2 weeks = income X 26
Twice Monthly = income X 24
Weekly = income X 52

11. Determination of eligibility
• As a pre-approval processor, it is your responsibility to calculate the
household’s total income and household size, then compare the total
amount to the Income Eligibility Guideline.
– Household size = Total people living at one address

12. Automatic Qualification
• Direct Certification (DC) - If a household receives benefits from SNAP
(formally food stamps) or TANF, all students in the household are
automatically eligible for free meals. Households must input their DC
number on the application. In some cases an application is unnecessary,
since the state provides OCPS with a DC list which is uploaded
automatically.
• Foster Children, Homeless, Migrant and Runaway
– Homeless can qualify by the homeless option in box 2 of the
applications or by completing the Residency Questionnaire which is
available from the school registrar.

13. Thank You
Meal Benefits Main Contact Information
Food & Nutrition Services
6501 Magic Way – Bldg. 500 Orlando, FL 32809
407-317-3966
Fax: 407-317-3714
meal.applications@ocps.net
On-line Applications : Direct to the application: www.ocpsmealapp.com OR click the links at
the school homepage or at www.ocps.net
Meal Benefits Staff
Brad Cunningham, Manager
407-317-3700 ext. 5148
bradley.cunningham@ocps.net