HOW TO DO ELECTRONIC DIRECT CERTIFICATION - In WINS - Training Purpose and Steps

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Đào

Training guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) explains how to complete Electronic Direct Certification in WINS to check children’s eligibility for free meal benefits. It outlines why sponsors should use the process, emphasizing fewer forms, reduced human error, and extending benefits within the same household under a foster-child exception. Additional rules clarify confidentiality, limits on verifying SNAP/TANF numbers, and the need to print the 12-month DC report before distributing HEA to non-matched children.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages31

Reading Time1 h 18 min

AccessFree to download

Purpose of this training

Why you should do Electronic Direct Certification

More about Electronic Direct Certification

How to access the Electronic Direct Certification system

Step 1: Access the ISBE nutrition page and log in to IWAS

Step 2: Log in to IWAS with Login Name and Password

Step 3: Select WINS from Systems Listing

Step 4: Choose Direct Certification

Step 5: Search using Single Child Match or File Upload Match

HOW TO DO ELECTRONIC DIRECT CERTIFICATION IN WINS Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) 1 Purpose of this training Electronic Direct Certification is a simple process to look up children in WINS to determine eligibility for free meal benefits. 2 Why you should do Electronic Direct Certification • Sponsors can search children who may receive SNAP, TANF, Income-Eligible Medicaid or Foster to determine FREE eligibility • One less form for the household to fill out. If there is a match, no HEA is needed • Reduces the risk for human error • Benefits can be extended from a child listed on the DC report to other children living in the same household – EXCEPTION → Foster children benefits cannot be extended to non-foster living in the household 3 More about Electronic Direct Certification • Key information: – Do NOT use the Direct Certification process to verify SNAP or TANF numbers submitted on an HEA. – Must keep information confidential!! – May only be used to identify children for free meal benefits. – For the children identified through the Electronic Direct Certification System, make sure to print the report: • DC report identifies SNAP, TANF, Income-Eligible Medicaid and Foster • Good for 12 months only!! – Distribute HEA to children who were NOT identified free through the Direct Certification process. 4 How to access the Electronic Direct Certification system 5 Step 1: [go to](go to www.isbe.net/nutrition)[ ](go to www.isbe.net/nutrition)[www.isbe.net/nutrition](go to www.isbe.net/nutrition) ; click on Log in to IWAS 6 Step 2: Log in to IWAS by entering your Login Name and Password. – If you do not have an IWAS/ WINS account follow instructions for New Partner – Sign up Now. 7 Step 3: Once logged into IWAS, click on Systems Listing on left margin and select WINS 8 Step 4: Scroll down and select Direct Certification. 9 Step 5: You can search for child(ren) by either of the following: 1) Single Child Match OR 2) File Upload Match 10

FAQs

What is the purpose of Electronic Direct Certification in WINS?

It is a simple process to look up children in WINS to determine eligibility for free meal benefits.

What are key limitations and confidentiality requirements when using the process?

Do not use it to verify SNAP or TANF numbers submitted on an HEA, keep information confidential, and use it only to identify children for free meal benefits.

How does the access and search workflow work in the Electronic Direct Certification system?

Go to the ISBE nutrition site, log in to IWAS, select WINS, choose Direct Certification, then search using either Single Child Match or File Upload Match.

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Đào