Free & Reduced Meals

Cafeteria Employees

Free/reduced meal applications are updated annually. Applications are available at each school and online to download starting in August.

Meal benefits from the previous school year carry over for the first 30 operating days of the new school year. This allows families time to reapply. A new application (one per household) must be filled out every year, with the exception of those students directly certified by Social Services. Families of directly certified students should not fill out an application. If you are unsure of a direct certification status please call our office at 365-4566.

Families that qualify for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) qualify for free meals. Applications must include a valid case number for processing. We are unable to contact Social Services to retrieve case numbers on behalf of families.

Household Size Max. Household Income for Free Meals Household Income for Reduced-Price Meals
 1  $18,954 $18,954.01 - $26,973 
 2  $25,636 $25,636.01 - $36,482
 3  $32,318 $32,318.01 - $45,991
 4  $39,000 $39,000.01 - $55,500
 5  $45,682 $45,682.01 - $65,009
 6  $52,364 $52,364.01 - $74,518
 7  $59,046 $59,046.01 - $84,027
 8  $65,728 $65,728.01 - $93,536
 For each additional family member, add:  $6,682 $9,509

Please remember to report gross income before taxes and other deductions. Be sure to include all family members in the household as well as a signature. Incomplete applications will be returned.

Application

You can apply for free/reduced meals online via LINQ. To complete the online application, please follow these 10 steps:

1) Go to linqconnect.com and click on Start Meal Application. Please note that you do not need to set up an account to complete the application.
2) Search for Hanover County Public Schools and select Next.
3) Enter the following information: Address, City, State, ZIP Code, Phone Number, and Email Address.
4) If you participate in one of the following Assistance programs, please select the program and enter the Case Number. Please note that if you qualify for one of these programs, you do not need to complete the fifth step. Programs: TANF - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs; FDPIR - Food distribution program for households on Indian reservations operated under part 253 of this title.
5) Enter the total number of people in your household then click Next.
6) On the right-hand side of the page, click New Student. This will open a window to enter student information. Enter as much of the following information as possible, including First/Middle/Last Name, Student ID, School, and Date of Birth. Click Save. If you have more than one student in HCPS, please repeat the steps above to add them to the application then click Next.
7) On the right-hand side of the page click New Household Member. Enter First and Last Name and Income for this person and click Save.
8) Please review the application to ensure all of your information is correct before you submit. Once you have reviewed it, click Next.
9) When signing and submitting the application, you may select your ethnicity/race if you choose to. Enter your name in the Signed By section and review the Terms of the Use. Enter the last four digits of your SSN or click No SSN.
10) Click Submit Application. You will receive an email confirming the application was submitted.

Paper Copy Alternative

The application below may be printed out, completed, and returned directly to School Nutrition at the School Board Office or through your child’s school. Applications are processed within six business days upon receipt in our office. 
If you need any assistance during this process, please contact your school cafeteria or the School Nutrition Department at 804-365-4654. 
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