Are you on the Food Program?

[e.j.]

I'm on the food program - Tier 2. I don't get a lot of reimbursement money each month (depending on my enrollment levels somewhere between $100-$130 per month) but every little bit helps. I have to buy the food and serve it to the kids anyway so, to me, the food program is worth it.

I'm lucky in that the program I belong to is always on time with payments and I've always had really good reps. We don't have to take classes but they do require we complete some at-home trainings - 3 a year. Usually, it's just a matter of reading a pamphlet they send out and answering questions on the reading. It's not all that time consuming, very easy and those trainings go toward the training hours we need to complete every year for the state.

We do have to plan ahead and have the week's menu available for parents (and food program reps) to see. It was hard for me to get used to doing it that way instead of just winging it every day. Once I got used to it, though, I found I actually prefer having a planned menu to go by. During busy meal prep times, it helps not to have to think about it. I just follow the menu and don't have to worry what I served yesterday and if it's nutrionally complete. We are required to record meals served at "point of service" and risk not getting reimbursed if the food rep happens to stop by if it hasn't been recorded but once you get used to doing it, it's not hard either.

I've never had anyone look in my refrigerator other than to see that my thermometer is there and to record the temp. No one has ever gone through my cabinets, etc. I did have a USDA rep visit along with my food rep once in 17 years and I have to say, that was stressful for me but even that wasn't too bad. I think I was only stressed out because I had heard stories of how horrible and invasive those visits could be but it really wasn't any worse than a regular visit.

[crazydaycarelady]

I am on it, on the lower tier though. Since I am a group home and can have 12 kids it is worth it, but if I ever drop back down to a family home and 6 kids I'll drop it. So not worth it for the lower tier!

[LaLa1923]

When I started out I asked everyone here is I should do it, they said yes. I'm happy I did.

I went to our yearly required workshop for my food program a couple weeks ago and the director made an announcement that providers who are income eligible can be on a higher reimbursement rate. I was ecstatic and I'm in the process of applying. If I get accepted my food program check will be 3x what it is now! And my family could really use it. happyface Please pray for our acceptance. We are income eligible, it just sounds too good to be true

happyface. Good for you! I'm praying for you! We are income eligible! I have no idea how, but it helps. I serve all meals, 3 per child. My kids eat breakfast but dc doesn't bc they've already eaten. So my kids get breakfast and dinner, dc kids get am snack, lunch, and dinner. In the summer I will claim am snack, lunch, & dinner for everyone. I do serve all meals though, with plenty of snack. My food worker said I could serve all but only claim 3.

This thread has a lot of useful info. It should be a sticky!! happyface

[MyAngels]

I forgot to add, I had my FP Rep here recently and she said there are "big changes" coming to the program soon. I asked her to elaborate and she said it will mean changes to the types of foods that can be served, how often, etc. She specifically said whole grains will become required rather than recommended as they are now.

I don't think it will mean a lot to me since I try to keep it healthy overall, but it could mean more work and planning I think.

[Laurel]

Example 1: You make $30,000 a year. You spend $12000 a year on food for your daycare. You deduct what you spend on food and are taxed on the remaining $18,000.

Example 2: You make $30,000 a year. You spend $12000 a year on food for your daycare. The food program reimburses you $8000. You earned $38,000 and have a $12,000 deduction for food and are taxed on the remaining $26,000.

Yes you will make more money and pay more taxes but you still deduct the expense of food on your taxes. In example 2 you take home an extra $8000 a year. You aren't going to be taxed $8000 because of that. If you fall in a 20% tax bracket you would owe $1600 more but you would be taking home $6600 more then in example 1.

You are already spending the money on food so the food program reimbursement is extra income. Of course it has its problems and isn't for everyone. I went off of it for years because it was a pain.

Thanks so much! I'll have to digest this later when I have the time.

Laurel

[providerandmomof4]

I'm on it. It is minimal effort and I never turn down what basically amounts to free money ::.

Exactly.

[AmyKidsCo]

I've been on the food program since I opened. I figure that I'd be feeding them anyway, so why not be reimbursed for it.

And, in WI licensed family centers are required to follow the same meal requirements as the food program, so since we're already fulfilling the requirements, why not get reimbursed for it?

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

In ohio your required to post a weekly menu anyway. But you can alter it. So most of the time I write on apples every day for dinner, then alter it when I know oh the pineapple is ripe or we get strawberries etc. I use to stress over what to write for the fruit now I fill in and change as needed. This week a bunch of days got flipped because of changes!

[Blackcat31]

I'm tier 2 so my checks do not cover my entire grocery bill. It covers MAYBE close to half. Wish I could be on tier 1 but I'll take what I can get

I'm on the food program - Tier 2. I don't get a lot of reimbursement money each month (depending on my enrollment levels somewhere between $100-$130 per month) but every little bit helps. I have to buy the food and serve it to the kids anyway so, to me, the food program is worth it.

I am on it, on the lower tier though. Since I am a group home and can have 12 kids it is worth it, but if I ever drop back down to a family home and 6 kids I'll drop it. So not worth it for the lower tier!

For those of you on the lower tier for reimbursement, I am pretty sure you can have individual families in your care fill out forms for income and if the individual family meets the income guidelines you can receive the higher reimbursement rates for those families, even if your daycare is located in a the lower tier area.

I would definitely check into it if you have lower income families.

[DaisyMamma]

happyface. Good for you! I'm praying for you! We are income eligible! I have no idea how, but it helps. I serve all meals, 3 per child. My kids eat breakfast but dc doesn't bc they've already eaten. So my kids get breakfast and dinner, dc kids get am snack, lunch, and dinner. In the summer I will claim am snack, lunch, & dinner for everyone. I do serve all meals though, with plenty of snack. My food worker said I could serve all but only claim 3.

This thread has a lot of useful info. It should be a sticky!! happyface

Interesting. I think I have to do three in a row. In other words breakfast, snack and lunch or snack, lunch and snack or snack, lunch and snack.

[LaLa1923]

For those of you on the lower tier for reimbursement, I am pretty sure you can have individual families in your care fill out forms for income and if the individual family meets the income guidelines you can receive the higher reimbursement rates for those families, even if your daycare is located in a the lower tier area.

I would definitely check into it if you have lower income families.

How do you quote several posts??

[nanglgrl]

For those of you on the lower tier for reimbursement, I am pretty sure you can have individual families in your care fill out forms for income and if the individual family meets the income guidelines you can receive the higher reimbursement rates for those families, even if your daycare is located in a the lower tier area.

I would definitely check into it if you have lower income families.

This is true in my area. Each family fills out a free/reduced lunch application just like they do in schools and their income will determine if you get a higher reimbursement for them. I have a family that is tier 1 and several that are tier 2.

One thing to remember if you are a tier 1 and get the higher reimbursement rate you are probably also getting reimbursed for feeding your own children. When tax time comes you have to include that amount as income but you can't deduct it from expenses.

[Patches]

For those of you on the lower tier for reimbursement, I am pretty sure you can have individual families in your care fill out forms for income and if the individual family meets the income guidelines you can receive the higher reimbursement rates for those families, even if your daycare is located in a the lower tier area.

I would definitely check into it if you have lower income families.

Yep, this is what my food rep told me, but none have qualified so far

[juliebug]

I am tier one and I am paid for my own children too!

I love it, Have an awesome rep who i love.

[Meeko]

I've been on the food program since I opened. I figure that I'd be feeding them anyway, so why not be reimbursed for it.

And, in WI licensed family centers are required to follow the same meal requirements as the food program, so since we're already fulfilling the requirements, why not get reimbursed for it?

Same here. Our state requires that all meals be USDA approved anyway. I am tier one due to the local school and depending on attendance make between $800 on a bad month and up to $1200 plus on a good one. It's very worth it financially for me and so easy to do on Minute Menu.