Certified Types

Certified Type	Description
Income	Type of approval based on household income. The Eligibility can be Free, Reduced, or Paid.
Categorical	Type of benefit based on participation in federal programs such as SNAP/FDPIR/TANF. The Eligibility should be Free. A child is also categorically eligible if the child is enrolled in a Head Start or Even Start Program, or a homeless child as determined by the school district’s homeless liaison or by the director of a homeless shelter, or a migrant child as determined by the state or local Migrant Education Program coordinator, or a runaway child who is receiving assistance from a program under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and is identified by the local educational liaison.
Override	Type of approval based on the district selecting to override the assigned Eligibility for a student on a Meal Benefits Application.
Runaway	The type of approval is based on confirmation of the student's runaway status. The Eligibility should be Free. If the certified type is Non-Direct, then confirmation is received from the district runaway coordinator. If the certified type is Direct, then confirmation is received from a direct certification file.
Homeless	Type of approval based on confirmation approving the student's homeless status. The Eligibility should be Free. If the certified type is Non-Direct, then confirmation is received from the district homeless coordinator. If the certified type is Direct, then confirmation is received from a direct certification file.
Foster	Type of approval based on confirmation approving the student's foster status where the child is living in a foster home or another type of facility which deems the student as foster. The Eligibility should be Free. If the certified type is Non-Direct, then confirmation is received from the district foster coordinator. If the certified type is Direct, then confirmation is received from a direct certification file.
Migrant	Type of approval based on confirmation approving the student's migrant status. If the certified type is Non-Direct, then confirmation is received from the district migrant coordinator. If the certified type is Direct, then confirmation is received from a direct certification file.
Even Start	Type of approval based on the student participating in the Federally-funded Even Start Family Literacy Program for preschool/pre-kindergarten children.
Head Start	Type of approval based on the student being enrolled as a participant in a Head Start program. If the certified type is Non-Direct, then confirmation is received from the district Head Start coordinator. If the certified type is Direct, then confirmation is received from a direct certification file.
RCCI	Type of approval based on the student attending a residential child care institution (RCCI) that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP).
Early Childhood	The Local Education Agency (LEA) can use this designation if the LEA is participating in a CAACFP program.
Medicaid	Type of approval based on the household receiving Medicaid benefits. If the certified type is Non-Direct, then confirmation is received from any method EXCEPT from a Direct Certification file or source. The student's eligibility will be Free. If the certified type is Direct, then confirmation is received from a direct certification file.
Declined	This status is used to track households who decline free/reduced eligibility benefits. This status is collected in some state's for state reporting data.
Denied	This status is used to track households who are denied free/reduced eligibility benefits. This status is collected in some state's for state reporting data.
Did Not Apply	This status is used to track households who did not apply for free/reduced eligibility benefits. This status is collected in some state's for state reporting data.
SES/Socioeconomic Status	Type of approval based on an Educational Benefits Application processed via non-food service department staff. This Certified Type is only allowed with an Eligibility Type of SES. This certified type is not sent to Campus Point of Sale terminals and is considered a "Paid" eligibility for meals.
SNAP	Type of approval based on confirmation from a local agency through direct certification that the household receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. All students identified as members of the household are categorically eligible for free meals or milk.
TANF	Type of approval based on confirmation from a local agency through direct certification that the household receives Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) assistance. All students identified as members of the household are categorically eligible for free meals or milk.
FDPIR	Type of approval based on confirmation from a local agency through direct certification that the household receives assistance from the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). All students identified as members of the household are categorically eligible for free meals or milk.

Eligibility: Certified Types

Certified Types

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