Error Free Income Eligibility Forms

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Double check Income Eligibility Forms

Since errors on IEFs are often the source of most over claims, it is a good idea to periodically check your IEFs to assure they are determined correctly. To be considered a complete application, an IEF must have the following items:

REQUIRED ITEMS ON IEFs

CHILD CARE CENTERS

ADULT CARE CENTERS

Food Stamps, TANF, FDPIR households Households qualifying based on income Foster children Food Stamps, Medicaid, SSI households Households qualifying based on income
CHILD’S NAME YES YES YES
ADULT PARTICIPANT’S NAME       YES YES
CASE NUMBER FOR FOOD STAMP, TANF, FDPIR YES
CASE NUMBER FOR FOOD STAMP, MEDICAID SSI       YES
NAMES OF ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS   YES     YES
CURRENT INCOME OF EACH HOUSEHOLD MEMBER BY SOURCE   YES LIST ONLY THE CHILD’S PERSONAL USE INCOME   YES
SIGNATURE OF ADULT HOUSEHOLD MEMBER YES YES

YES

SIGNATURE OF ADULT PARTICIPANT       YES YES
SOCIAL
SECURITY
NUMBER OF SIGNER
  YES     YES

Since errors on IEFs are often the source of most over claims, it is a good idea to periodically check your IEFs to assure they are determined correctly. To be considered a complete application, an IEF must have the following items:

IEF REMINDERS

  • Income Eligibility Forms (IEFs) should be determined as soon as the form is received.
  • IEFs may be effective on the first day of the month in which the eligibility determination is made.
  • IEFs are the ONLY forms that allow meals to be claimed in the Free and Reduced-price rates of reimbursement. No other documents may be used for this purpose. Title XX authorization may not be used to determine a participant’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.
  • IEFs may be effective for no more than 12 months.
  • Income reported as “0” (Zero) must be confirmed every 45 calendar days, except applications for foster or institutionalized children.
  • Current income means income received by the household during the month prior to the completion of the IEF. If this income is higher or lower than usual and does not fairly or accurately represent the household’s actual circumstances, the household may project its annual rate of income. If monthly income fluctuates, then households may project their annual rate of income and report this amount as current income.
  • The current fiscal year IEFs issued by Nutrition Services and the current income guidelines are to be used. IEFs are designed to expire on June 30 of each year, as new income guidelines go into effect on July 1.

How much one error costs

Updated February 15, 2023 5:15pm