February 12, 2010
TO: Sponsors of the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Special Milk
Programs
RE: Revised Exclusion of Military Combat Pay
The Oregon Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs (ODE CNP) received
revised guidance from USDA concerning implementation of the exclusion of military
combat pay from income eligibility determinations. The revised guidance is in bold
This exclusion of military combat pay from income eligibility determinations applies to:
- Free and reduced price meals in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast
Programs; and
- Free milk in the Special Milk Program
As set forth in the statute, combat pay is defined as an additional payment made under
Chapter 5 of Title 37 of the United States Code that is received by the household member
who is deployed to a designated combat zone.
Combat pay is excluded if it is:
- Received in addition to the service member’s basic pay;
- Received as a result of the service member’s deployment to or service in an area
that has been designated as a combat zone; and
- Not received by the service member prior to his/her deployment to or service in the
designated combat zone
Continue to count only that portion of the deployed service member’s income made
available by them or on their behalf to the household as income. Deployed service
members are considered members of the household for purposes of determining income
eligibility for the Child Nutrition Programs.
If you have questions, please contact your assigned Child Nutrition Specialist.
Sincerely,
Heidi Dupuis
Manager, School Nutrition
Child Nutrition Programs
Office of the Superintendent