Food Program: Worth The Hassle?

[Miss A]

Last week I contacted my CCR&R rep about a training I was hoping would be offered locally, and of course on her return call she tries selling me on the food program.

So, I am attempting to weigh the pros and cons. What makes the food program beneficial to you? What is your biggest headache? Is KidKare still so glitchy or have the kinks been ironed out? How does CACFP income factor into your taxes, and do you still use the standard meal deduction?

I am looking for personal experiences to help make an informed decision. Obviously my rep is trying to sway me, but I just don't know if I want to be on the food program.

[Cat Herder]

In some places it is great, in others a nightmare. Guess where I live. ::

I would recommend asking this in a local providers group. If you have a good program, it may be worth it for you.

[JBWWCC]

Honestly, I don't think so. You can actually claim 1 cent more per meal on your taxes. Keep a meal form, with every meal you served each DCK (not your own) and claim it at the end of the year. Tom Copeland has the numbers! You can claim, popsicles, pop tarts, random snacks that would not be allowed on the food program. (not that you should serve that stuff) but if you do, you can claim it! You don't have someone showing up randomly ruining everyones rhythm and being a pest. The only con is you don't get the extra check each month. It's all at the end of the year.

http://tomcopelandblog.com/how-to-claim-food-expenses

This link will explain everything!

[Miss A]

Thanks! CH, I actually reached out to a number of local home providers and none of them participate. I will not be either, as the number of local providers who do not participate tells me much more than any CCR&R rep can tell me.

JBWWCC, I love that I can use the standard meal deduction each year at tax time. It makes my record keeping a little more simple, and it helps save me time in both meal preparation and grocery shopping. Thanks for the helpful link!

[Blackcat31]

It is always beneficial for a program/provider to be on the food program.

http://tomcopelandblog.com/is-the-food-program-worth-it

That ^^^ is just one article on Tom's site in regards to the benefits of the food program. Use the search function on his site for additional info.

[hwichlaz]

It’s $600 a month extra money, for about 10 min per day in paperwork on the computer.

[e.j.]

It’s $600 a month extra money, for about 10 min per day in paperwork on the computer.

How much you get depends on what Tier you're assigned to and how many kids you claim per month. I'm Tier 2 so the money I get back each month is quite a bit less than the money I used to get in the last town I lived where I was a Tier 1 provider. Lately, I've been giving a lot of thought to whether or not I want to continue with the fp but I've stuck it out this far because I'm required to follow FDA guidelines whether I'm on the fp or not and because I have to buy food to feed the kids either way. Some reimbursement is better than none in my opinion.

[CalCare]

From what I understand (I'm not on the food program), you can get your food program money AND claim standard meal deduction on taxes and you claim your food program money as income as well...? So it's not one or the other. Idk, I'm debating joining too.

[lovemykidstoo]

I typically receive about $500 a month from the FP. Before when I was a different tier it was about $250. It's really easy paperwork and my rep comes once a quarter. She is really nice, so it's not a bother to me at all.

[alyssahenderson]

Try to ask some locals first. It will always differs from places to places.

[Play Care]

From what I understand (I'm not on the food program), you can get your food program money AND claim standard meal deduction on taxes and you claim your food program money as income as well...? So it's not one or the other. Idk, I'm debating joining too.

Yes, it's not one or the other. You do both.

I was a Tier 1 provider for the last 5 years and recently got bumped to Tier 2. Truthfully I am debating staying on, as I've had some minor issues with my FP sponsor. But generally getting paid to do something you already are doing isn't a bad thing.

[Play Care]

Thanks! CH, I actually reached out to a number of local home providers and none of them participate. I will not be either, as the number of local providers who do not participate tells me much more than any CCR&R rep can tell me.

JBWWCC, I love that I can use the standard meal deduction each year at tax time. It makes my record keeping a little more simple, and it helps save me time in both meal preparation and grocery shopping. Thanks for the helpful link!

Have they *ever* participated though? I do think a lot of providers tend to be suspicious about yet another person overseeing their business that they don't sign on. I think most providers have relatively positive experiences on the FP. I think Sharlan was the only member here I know of who had a really horrible FP sponsor.

[Josiegirl]

I seriously thought about giving it up when the whole system switched to kidkare, just because I dislike change. But my fp lady convinced to stay on it by showing me how easy it is. KK hasn't been a big problem for me because all I do is the food part of it. I get anywhere from 300-400 a month(don't have a full count lots of meals); I'm on the higher tier. If I wasn't then I wouldn't bother. The FP woman I have is wonderful, a former provider herself so she's totally understanding. If she made life difficult that'd be another reason for me to drop it.
At tax time, my acct. adds the FP income to my regular income and then uses the meal rates on the deductions end. He said it's pretty much a wash because I've asked him if it's worth it. I always count things such as cupcakes, popsicles, and family events as separate expenses though, but make sure I serve the required 2 components for snacks, etc.
You can count infants, even just bottle feeding them, which is nice.
FP comes quarterly here too. Doing meal counts and menus isn't that big of a deal. There is a required 2 hr. training each year.

[Cat Herder]

I think Sharlan was the only member here I know of who had a really horrible FP sponsor.

No, I did too. It is really chaotic, here.

It isn't the oversight, I like taking training classes and having occasional visitors. Especially ones who bring treats like a couple of them did. It is the mismanagement, turnover, and incompetence of the various sub-contractors that made the extra work not worth it on the lowest tier. They lost paperwork constantly, missed deadlines, changed providers (and all the paperwork that entails) and often cost me the reimbursement. There was no recourse. I was on the lowest level with a low ratio anyway, so it was barely worth it to begin with. I think I got one out of every three claims. I left after a year.

I joined for the training, not the reimbursement and even that was a cluster. It really has to do with where you live and community resources.

[daycarediva]

In MY area it's completely worth it, although I can see how it wouldn't be. If that were the case, I would have parents provide meals. I am reimbursed at the higher tier, so my checks (full enrollment) are around 1100-1200/month.

Pays for my DC groceries.