Basic Food
Basic Food, the state's food stamp program, helps people in Washington make ends meet by providing monthly benefits to buy food. Participating in Basic Food has other benefits such as:
- Enrollment in free school meals for school-aged children;
- Qualification for low-cost local phone service; and
- Shows your family meets the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) income test.
Basic Information / Updates
Now, Basic Food is available to more people in Washington State. Gross income limits have increased to 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Asset limits are also waived under the current rules (e.g. retirement account and car value).
Household Size |
Monthly Income |
1 |
$1,805 |
2 |
$2,429 |
3 |
$3,052 |
4 |
$3,675 |
5 |
$4,299 |
Am I eligible? How much would I get each month?
Eligibility for Basic Food is based on your monthly income (before taxes) and your household size. We also look at your regular expenses, such as rent and child care, to determine what your benefits will be.
Use our Benefit Estimator to determine if you qualify for Basic Food and get an estimate of your monthly benefits.
More Information
Basic Food FAQ's including how we determine your monthly benefits
Basic Food Publications - Brochure , Rack Card , Bookmark
Cambodian Brochure, Rack Card
Korean Brochure, Rack Card
Laotian Brochure, Rack Card
Russian Brochure, Rack Card, FAQ
Somali Brochure, Rack Card
Spanish Brochure, Rack Card, FAQ
Vietnamese Brochure, Rack Card
Chinese Brochure, Rack Card
From a client:
"Thank you so much for the food stamp card. It has helped me so much...This helps me buy things I have not been able to buy for a long time, like greens and fresh fruit."
-Anna R., Colfax, WA
Apply Here
Getting Basic Food is easy! You can apply in person at the local DSHS Community Service Office , by mail, or online. We can arrange a phone interview anytime an in-office interview is inconvenient and we can help verify any required information.
Please call our toll-free number: 1-877-514-FOOD (3663), for more information or to request an application.
Get hooked up!
When we approve you for Basic Food, even if you have a low or zero-dollar monthly benefit, you are eligible for low-cost local phone service through the Washington Telephone Assistance Program (WTAP).
People who receive Basic Food can enroll in WTAP by calling their local phone provider.
For more information about WTAP, Call 1-888-700-8880.
