There are two programs that help people with lower income access monthly food benefits:
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (Federal program)
- Basic Food (Washington state program)
Who qualifies?
Washington state residents who meet:
Legal immigrants who are not eligible for federal basic food because of their immigration status may be eligible for the state Food Assistance Program.
Applying for or receiving SNAP does not make you a public charge and will not be considered in a public charge determination. (Amharic, Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese, French, Korean, Lao, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese)
Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD)
Some adults who don't have children will need to participate in work activities to stay eligible for Basic Food. More information can be found on the ABAWD page.
Applying for Benefits
Your Basic Food benefits are based on your family size and income. Try the SNAP screener to see what your benefits may look like.
Apply for support
- Online
- By phone at 877-501-2233
- At your local Community Services Office
Learn More
Check out this guide for more information about how to apply for and use benefits. (Also available in Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Somali, Korean, Laotian, Chinese, and Cambodian)
For help with other basic needs, check out DCYF's community resource directory.
