Family Income Survey

Yes. Your child's Family Income Survey is only good for that school year and the first few days of this school year. You should complete a new Family Income Survey unless you have been notified by Nutrition Services that your child is eligible for the new school year. 

Families should fill out the survey if their total household income is the same or less than the amount on the Income Guideline Chart below.

Household is defined as all persons, including parents, children, grandparents, and all people related or unrelated who live in your home and share living expenses. If applying for a household with a foster child, you may include the foster child in the total household size. 

Household Income is considered the income each household member received before taxes. This includes wages, social security, pension, unemployment, welfare, child support, alimony, and any other cash income. If you include a foster child as part of the household, you must also include the foster child's personal income. Do not report foster payments as income.

Yes. Children on TANF or Basic Food may qualify for free status and children receiving some Medicaid benefits may qualify for free or reduced status without the household having to complete a Family Income Survey. These children are identified by using a state data matching process. Please contact us immediately if you feel your children should be automatically qualified and are not.

Yes. If someone else in the household has a case number, other than a foster child, you must complete an income survey and send it to your child's school. Please contact us immediately if you feel other children in your household should be qualified and are not. 

Basic Food is the state's food stamp program. It helps households make ends meet by providing monthly benefits to buy food. Getting Basic Food is easy! You can apply in person at the local DSHS Community Service Office, by mail, or online. There are other benefits too. You can learn about Basic Food by calling 1-877-501-2233 or by logging on to https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/community-services-offices/basic-food. 

Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.

To inquire about or apply for health care coverage for children in your family, please visit http://www.wahealthplanfinder.org or you may call Washington Health Plan Finder at 1-855-923-4633.

If you child needs special foods, please contact our Dietitians at 253-945-5567, 253-945-5557, lhoffman@fwps.org or agrader@fwps.org.

Yes. You may submit a survey any time during the school year. If you should have a decrease in household income, an increase in household size, or become unemployed, or receive Basic Food, TANF, FDPIR, you may be eligible for benefits and should fill out an additional Family Income Survey at that time.