as a public school teacher for years - this says quite a bit.
Lunch is free or reduced to any and every child enrolled in the school. There is a form that has to be filled out. Now, these forms (which i am quite familiar with) are very intrusive with the information they request. Plus, once this form is complete and turned in - it will "activate" the family for any and all other assitance that is available.
There are used here by the "undocumented" immigrants to get fast tracked into the welfare system.
This tells me that zahra nor eb and ab were receiving any type of assistance at all. If zahra was getting any type of ssi or disability or any assistance - she would have automatically qualified for free lunch at school.
Dingbat eb had to have known this - which is why i believe she didn't fill out the form. As i've said it is quite intrusive and the information it requests and eb just didn't want anyone in their business.