Why do some kids get free or reduced lunch, when I have to pay the full price?

Question

Some of my friends only have to pay $0.40 for school lunch, and others get it for free! I have to pay the full $1.85, why is this? I want reduced lunch! 40 cents is super cheap for a full meal!

Answer 1

Reduced prices are set on how much your parents make.  If they make a lot of money and are not considered below poverty level, you pay the full price.  Now, if you are paying for the lunches yourself from money you earn, to bad.  The school board doesn't care about that.

Answer 2

Be grateful that YOUR PARENTS can pay full price for lunch.

Some families are not as fortunate.

Answer 3

Reduced or free lunch programs are based on household size and household income. Sometimes the income might be the same for two families but more people live in one household so they might qualify. You have to fill out a form to see if you qualify, check with your school you might be able to get your lunch for $0.40 too.

Answer 4

Here's the answer: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 5

Because their families have a low enough income to qualify . . . get the form from the school office and have your parents fill it out, you might qualify too.

Answer 6

Because your parents make more money than your friends parents.

Answer 7

At the beginning of the school year, there is a form you can complete about household income, household size, etc. It determines eligibility for the free/reduced lunch program.

Answer 8

either they exploit the system(very unlikely)

or their parents dont make enough money to give their child money for lunch(also unlikely but the school compensates them by reducing or giving them free lunch)

Answer 9

Adjusted lunch rates depend on total income of the household.

Answer 10

Reduced lunch's simply means that they met a certain financial criteria, not necessarily that they are poor.

Answer 11

Because their parents don't make as much money as your parents do, they have reduced school lunch because thier parents don't make that much money.  They are probably a little sensative to the subject, I wouldn't make a big deal about it.

Answer 12

The low price/ free school meals are for people who can't afford the full price, the parent's income is calculated and if it is considered inssuficient you get the reducedd or free meals, in simpler words it is cheap or free food for poor kids, have a heart!!!

Answer 13

Why do some people get free or reduced medical care, when I have to pay full price (or do without!)?

Answer 14

It all depends on the amount of money the parents make. And believe it or not some of the kids who get reduced or free lunches are embarrassed by it. Only the kids who's parents have proven to the state that they can not afford to pay for lunches get the free or reduced. And everything in their lives are free or reduced. Some kids accept this as their due, others are embarrassed by it and do everything they can to break away from the system and never go back. Others will raise their own children with the welfare system.

Answer 15

Maybe your parents' incomes are bigger than your friends' parents?  It is based on that...

Answer 16

I have to pay the full price aswell! (Well, with my parents money Hahaa)

I think it's when you only have 1 working parent you get it free but if you have 2 working parents in a good job, then you have to pay :|

Answer 17

it depends on your parents income

Answer 18

well for one i applied for it to see if i can even get it, so it tells you what you have to make for an income to qualify so you can look on that so you dont have to waste your time filling it all out if you dont have to.

my husband only works so we do qualify

Answer 19

it depends on how much money your parents make. if they do not make a lot of money then they can get a form from the school office and apply for cheaper lunches.

Answer 20

perhaps they r from a low-income family and $1.85 sounds dirt cheap anyways. i think ur being stingy

Answer 21

Because their parents have low incomes..so they don't want them to go bankrupt paying for lunch..