Over the holidays, while visiting with my family, my dad asked my brother and I, if we'd received our "chicken checks". You read that right, and I heard it correctly, "Chicken Checks". I asked him what he meant, and his reply was epic. "I got a check for buying too much chicken or not being afraid of anything… not being a chicken or something. I don't know."

I took this new knowledge to my wife (who knows everything), and she laughed and informed me of what the "chicken checks" are all about.

In an "eggshell" (you know, "nutshell," pun intended), a major lawsuit against tuna and chicken producers because of price-fixing in Washington state was rewarded in Washingtonian's favor.


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$40.6 million in financial restitution checks started going to homes in Washington State in early December of 2023. 15% of Washington state's population lives within the requirements of receiving a check.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A WASHINGTON CHICKEN CHECK?

According to the Attorney General of Washington's website, households whose income is at or below 175% of the federal poverty level would receive a check. That breaks down to 402,2000 Washington households. Confused? Here's a more straightforward breakdown:

  • Family of five making less than $61,495
  • Single Parent raising 3 kids making $52,500 or less
  • Single Parent raising 2 kids making less than $43,505
  • Single Parent of 1 or retired couple living on two fixed incomes, totaling less than $34,510
  • A retired person living alone on a fixed income of less than $25,515.

HOW MUCH WILL MY CHICKEN CHECKS BE?

If you qualify, a single-person household will receive a check for $50. A household with 2 or more persons will receive a check for $120.


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For more information on the lawsuit and payout, click here. For more information about check claims, visit RefundCheck.atg.wa.gov.

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