West Bloomfield Nutrition Services is pleased to offer WestBloomfield.FamilyPortal.cloud. This platform offers various options for parents/guardians wanting to make payments and monitor your student’s account online.  It is extremely user friendly and accessible on your mobile device. You are in full control of your account and can make payments at any time. There will be no fees for payments made through the Family Portal.

When you set up your account, please review your options carefully. The site is secure and uses industry standard data encryption. The district does not request or keep records of family credit card account information.

To Submit a Education & Nutrition Benefits Application 

All Free/Reduced Meal Applications can be found and submitted online at the WBSD Family Portal by going to (https://lWestbloomfield.familyportal.cloud). There are no forms to fill out and return. The WBSD Family Portal allows parents to easily apply for meal benefits for children. Families are required to fill out only one application for their entire household. The application will be good for an entire school year. If your family currently receives SNAP benefits, you may already qualify for free meals. Families will be notified by email or US mail of their eligibility and will NOT​ have to complete an application. Students that qualified for the program last school year must submit a new application by September 30. Applications are accepted throughout the school year. Until you receive notification from Nutrition Services, you are responsible for paying full price for school meals or packing a lunch for your student. 

Apply at WBSD Family Portal​ (https://lWestbloomfield.familyportal.cloud) and click “My Account” or "Guest", then click "Accept" (You must click Accept at the bottom of the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy sections)​ and it will walk you through the process in just a few minutes. Your completed application will be electronically submitted to your school district so your children can receive benefits quickly and confidentially.  If you need assistance filling out the online application, please call the Nutrition Services Department at 248.865.6732.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT education & nutrition benefits application

Dear Parent/Guardian:
Our school offers healthy meals each day. For school year 2024-25, we are joining the Michigan School Meals Program. All students can get one breakfast and one lunch free of charge each day at school. Although no application is required to receive this free meal benefit, filling out the Education and Nutrition Benefits Application is still important! Your child(ren) may qualify for other benefits like reduced fees at school. Your application may also help the school qualify for education funds, discounts, and other programs.

1.  WHO CAN GET ADDITIONAL EDUCATION BENEFITS? 

• All children in households receiving benefits from the Food Assistance Program (FAP), Family Independence Program (FIP), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are eligible.

• Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible. 

• Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible.

• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible.

• Children may receive education benefits if your household’s income is within the limits of the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines on this chart.

FEDERAL INCOME ELIGIBILITY CHART for School Year 2025-2026

2. HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILDREN QUALIFY AS HOMELESS, MIGRANT, OR RUNAWAY? Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangement? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and have not been told your children will get free meals, please call or e-mail Nicole Melville, Student Liaison at nicole.melville or (248) 865-6479.

3. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD? No. Use one application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. 

4. SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE ALREADY APPROVED THROUGH DIRECT CERTIFICATION? No, but please read the letter you received carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact Andrea Grobe, Food Service Director at andrea.grobe@wbsd.org (248) 865-6733.  

5. CAN I APPLY ONLINE? Yes! You are encouraged to complete an online application instead of a paper application if you are able. The online application has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application. Visit https://westbloomfield.familyportal.cloud/ to begin or to learn more about the online application process. Contact Nancy Romaya, Food Service Administrative Assistant at Nancy.Romaya@wbsd.org or (248)865-6732 if you have any questions about the online application.

6. MY CHILD’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW ONE? Yes.  Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year, through October 8th, 2024. You must send in a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year. If you do not send in a new application that is approved by the school or you have not been notified that your child is eligible, you will not receive additional education benefits and your school could lose out on additional funding.  

7. I GET WIC. DO I NEED TO COMPLETE AND APPLICATION? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for supplemental benefits. Please send in an application.

8. WILL THE INFORMATION I GIVE BE CHECKED? Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report. 

9. IF I DON’T QUALIFY NOW, MAY I APPLY LATER? Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible if the household income drops below the income limit.

10. WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH THE SCHOOL’S DECISION ABOUT MY APPLICATION? You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: 
    
    Ted Stinson theodore.stinson@wbsd.org
    Director of Maintenance and Operations

11. MAY I APPLY IF SOMEONE IN MY HOUSEHOULD IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN? Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply.  

12. WHAT IF MY INCOME IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME? List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime occasionally. If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.

13. WHAT IF SOME HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE NO INCOME TO REPORT? Household members may not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application or may not receive income at all. Whenever this happens, please write a 0 in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we will assume you meant to do so.

14. WE ARE IN THE MILITARY; DO WE REPORT OUR INCOME DIFFERENTLY? Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income. 

15. WHAT IF THERE ISN’T ENOUGH SPACE ON THE APPLICATION FOR MY FAMILY? List any additional household members on a separate piece of paper and attach it to your application. Contact our food service office at (248)865-6732 with any questions.

16. MY FAMILY NEEDS MORE HELP. ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS WE MIGHT APPLY FOR? To find out how to apply for Food Assistance Program (FAP) or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office https://newmibridges.michigan.gov/s/isd-partnershiplanding?language=en_US. 

If you have other questions or need help, call (248) 865-6732. To print, use this link. 

Sincerely, 

Andrea Grobe, Food Service Director