3.11 Multipurpose Family Income Form (MFIF) = Student School Eligibility Benefits

The Multipurpose Family Income Form (MFIF) determines student eligibility for school benefits and more. Submit the Multipurpose Family Income Form to apply for free or reduced school benefits. We encourage ALL families to submit the MFIF by or before the first Wednesday in October to support our students, school’s funding and more.

• Please visit www.sfusd.edu/MFIF for instructions on how to submit the form online at SchoolCafe.com (available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese). SchoolCafe.com/SFUSD is a secure and confidential website for  families to submit the MFIF, formerly known as the Meal Application and the Local Control Formula Funding survey. These forms were combined to better serve our students, parents, and school community by managing the collection and submission of one form instead of two.The results of the form are kept confidential; only the parent/guardian/caregiver can share the results of the form. When students do not have a form on file, it can lead to inaccurate data and affect how funding is allocated to your school.
• Allow 5 business days for processing. You will receive your results via email (at the email address you have on file with the SFUSD Enrollment Office) and will be available by creating a Parent account in SchoolCafe.com.
• Even if you know you do NOT qualify for free or reduced school benefits, you can still  help.  Please submit the form to provide accurate data for School funding. Mark the “Not Interested” box, and you will not be asked to enter income information; a social security number is not required to qualify.
• The MFIF must be submitted by an adult, such as a parent/guardian/caregiver. The form must include:
  • The first and last name of each student in the household,
  • School name for all students enrolled in SFUSD, Student ID is optional,
  • Adult signature,
  • Income brackets that align with your household members’ income and/or public assistance program information.
• If there is a change or you made a mistake in your household size, income, or employment status, you may reapply at any time during the school year.

Why is the MFIF important to families? Link to this section

The MFIF Free or Reduced results will give students and families access to District and city benefits, too! Eligible families may receive:

• Fee waivers for ExCEL after school programs and SAT exams
• Discounted utilities for your home like internet access or PG&E services
• SUNBucks benefits and more! View the Family Benefits Guide new link:

Why is the MFIF important to SFUSD? Link to this section

Federal, local, and private funding is based on the number of eligible forms we collect.  The results of MFIF submissions also help to ensure the school meal program is properly funded by both the State and Federal governments.  When a family completes the MFIF, they help to ensure SFUSD has proper funding for classrooms and meals!

Is the Multipurpose Family Income Form kept confidential? Link to this section

Yes, your information is secure. Student Nutrition Services will share your information only for the purposes of determining family benefits and classroom funding purposes. Our online platform is secure.

What if we are not citizens or legal U.S. residents? Link to this section

School meals are available regardless of the student’s or their family’s citizenship status. Participation in the school meals program is not considered a “public charge”, and submitting a MFIF will not impact immigration status. A social security number is not required on the form. 

What if I transfer schools, will I still qualify for school benefits? Link to this section

Yes, student eligibility will follow the student through their enrollment in SFUSD per school year. Regardless of school change, please submit a new MFIF each school year.

Summer EBT (SunBucks)

How can I qualify for 2026 Summer SUN Bucks? The student must attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program and meet one of the following during the eligibility period July 1 – August 31:  Be Directly Certified (CalFresh, CalWORKs) OR have an approved Free or Reduced MFIF results on file in SchoolCafe.com/sfusd OR be identified as Homeless, Foster, or Migrant by SFUSD.  If your student meets any of these criteria, their information will be included in the next state data upload for the June Summer SUN Bucks program. If you have additional SUN Bucks questions, please visit https://www.cdss.ca.gov/sun-bucks or call 877.328.9677.

Questions regarding student eligibility please email schoollunch@sfusd.edu and include student information.

Did you receive a “Direct Certification Letter for School Eligibility Benefits”?

We are pleased to inform you that the student(s) who have been directly certified will automatically receive school eligibility benefits and do not need to submit the annual Multipurpose Family Income Form. The certification is based on the student’s or the household’s participation in a public assistance program. 

• If you receive this notification via email, and the names of all SFUSD students in the household are listed on the notification letter, you do not need to submit the MFIF for this school year.
• If you did not receive this notification for the current school year:
  • And if your household receives CalFresh (Food Stamps), California Work Opportunity (CalWORKs), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), please submit the MFIF form for this school year. Include your case number in order to qualify for school benefits.
  • And if your household has children who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant education program, or runaway, please submit the MFIF annually and mark the appropriate option for each student.
• If the Direct Certification letter is missing students in the household, please submit the MFIF and list all household members.

How to find your SFUSD Student MFIF Results and Direct Certification Letter

View this document in:  Spanish | Chinese 

SFUSD Multipurpose Family Income Form(MFIF) and Direct Certification (DC) letters help students with school benefits and more.  The letter is available for all actively enrolled students in SFUSD who participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and or Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP) and submit the annual SFUSD Multipurpose Family Income Form online at Schoolcafe.com or participate in the Direct Certification process.  To qualify for the free or reduced priced categories the household size and income must meet the guidelines or students participate in CalFresh, CalWORKs, and/or Medi-Cal, Foster, Homeless, Migrant Education program.  

SFUSD schools, city services, and organizations who support students' education like After School programs, Summer programs, and more may request a copy of the student's MFIF Results letter or the DC letter, also known as the students’ school eligibility benefits letter. 

Parents (Caregivers & Guardians) can find the eligibility letter In the email inbox. Search Subject line: SFUSD MFIF Results or Direct Certification. It's important to keep contact information updated in ParentVue, website portal.sfusd.edu,  email enrollinschool@sfusd.edu, call 415-241-6085. You can find the letter in SchoolCafe.com. parent account, sign in and look under > Eligibility Info > Notifications tab to download.  If unable to find or access the letter.  Please email request to schoollunch@sfusd.edu and include the student's full name and DOB or Student ID.