Policy Exception – Family Size and Income Determinations in the Child Nutrition Programs for Certain Military Families

We are providing further clarification on the child nutrition policy for military households affected by deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This memorandum expands upon an earlier memorandum dated Feb. 4, 2003, Military Families and Eligibility in the Child Nutrition Programs.

Under current policy, (please reference pages 32-33 of the Eligibility Guidance for School Meals Manual issued August 2001) household members who are temporarily absent from the household are considered household members, and their income is included with other household income when making an eligibility determination. Household members not living with the household for an extended period of time or living overseas are not included as members of the household for eligibility purposes, and only that portion of their income made available by them or on their behalf to the household is counted as income to the household.

However, for the duration of Operation Enduring Freedom, we are allowing an exception to current policy on determining household income and size for deployed service members. Therefore, only that portion of the deployed service member’s income made available by them or on their behalf to the household will be counted as income to the household. In addition, the deployed service member will continue to be considered a household member.

STANLEY C. GARNETT
Director
Child Nutrition Division