Washington Basic Food (SNAP) for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Basic Food — Washington's name for the federal SNAP program — works differently from child-only TANF, and that difference catches many kinship caregivers off guard. Where TANF child-only grants ignore the caregiver's income entirely, Basic Food usually counts everyone who lives together and shares meals as one household.

The Purchase-and-Prepare Rule

DSHS determines your Basic Food assistance unit based on who lives together and purchases and prepares food in common. If your grandchild eats meals with you (which is almost always the case), the child is generally included in your food household. That means your income, the child's income, and everyone else who shares meals in the home are evaluated together against SNAP income limits.

This is the key distinction from TANF. A grandparent earning $4,000/month in retirement income who easily qualifies for child-only TANF cash (because their income is excluded) might not qualify for Basic Food at all if the combined household income exceeds the gross limit.

Current Income Limits

For the federal fiscal year running October 2026 through September 2027, Washington Basic Food gross income limits (200% FPL for most households) are approximately:

• 2-person household: $3,608/month
• 3-person household: $4,540/month
• 4-person household: $5,472/month

Net income limits (after deductions for shelter, dependent care, and medical expenses for elderly/disabled members) are lower. If you're 60 or older or disabled, you qualify for the excess medical deduction — prescription costs, Medicare premiums, and medical transport above $35/month are subtracted from your countable income.

When the Child Can Be a Separate Food Unit

There are situations where DSHS allows flexible unit determinations. A minor relative living with you temporarily may be treated separately when food is purchased separately; a child's separate financial resources may also affect the unit determination. In practice, separate food arrangements are unusual for grandparents raising young grandchildren in the same kitchen — but they can matter for older teens or temporary living arrangements.

Receiving TANF child-only cash does not automatically create a separate Basic Food unit. The two programs use different household counting rules.

How to Apply

Apply through the same Washington Connection portal (washingtonconnection.org) you'd use for TANF. The application covers cash assistance, Basic Food, and medical coverage simultaneously. You can also apply by phone at 1-877-501-2233 or in person at your local DSHS Community Services Office.

Processing time: 30 calendar days for standard applications. If your household meets emergency criteria (very low income, high shelter costs relative to income), you may qualify for expedited service — DSHS must process the application within 7 calendar days.

Work Requirements and Exemptions

Federal SNAP rules impose work registration and time limits for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD). But relative caregivers who are caring for a dependent child under age 6 are exempt from both work registration and ABAWD time limits. Caregivers aged 60 and over, or those with a disability, are also exempt regardless of the child's age.

Direct Certification for School Meals

One benefit that comes automatically with Basic Food: children receiving SNAP are directly certified for free school breakfast and lunch. The school district receives the information from DSHS electronically — you don't need to fill out a separate free-lunch application. This also qualifies the child for Summer EBT (SUN Bucks), which loads additional food purchasing dollars onto the EBT card during summer months.

Fitting Basic Food Into the Bigger Picture

Basic Food is one piece of a larger set of programs available to kinship caregivers in Washington. The Washington Financial Help for Kinship Caregivers guide walks through how TANF child-only cash, Basic Food, Apple Health, childcare subsidies, and emergency funds work together — including how to sequence your applications so each approval strengthens the next.

See more Washington guides →