Food Stamps

Food Stamps are designed to promote well-being by supporting the nutrition needs of low-income households. Participants must meet federal income eligibility guidelines. The Food Stamp program assures nutritious meals for low-income families. The number of persons in a household and the income and resources of those persons determine eligibility for the program.

The Food Stamp Program is a federal program that provides a monthly allotment of Food Stamp benefits issued via Electronic Benefit Transfer cards (ATM type cards). The Food Stamp Program is an entitlement program, so all eligible individuals and households can receive assistance. Food Stamp benefits may be used to purchase most foods at participating stores. They may not be used to purchase tobacco, pet food, paper products, soap products, or alcoholic beverages. Eligible households must be given the opportunity to receive Food Stamp benefits no later than thirty days from the date of application. Individuals with special circumstances must be given an opportunity to receive Food Stamp benefits no later than seven days from the date of application.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Individuals residing together, but purchasing and preparing their meals separately, may be able to participate in the Food Stamp Program as a separate household. Some individuals, whether they purchase and prepare their meals separately, must participate in the Food Stamp Program as one household.
• Each member of the Food Stamp household must be an U. S. Citizen or an immigrant admitted to the United States under a specific immigration status. Citizens and eligible immigrants must also meet all other Food Stamp Program eligibility requirements to receive assistance. Some households may be able to receive benefits even if the only eligible members are children.
• Some individuals are required to participate in Food Stamp work programs, such as, Employment and Training. Some individuals have to meet special work requirements. These are able-bodied adults without dependent children.
• Households may have $2,000 in countable resources, such as a bank accounts and vehicles. Households may have $3,000 if at least one person is age 60 or older or disabled. Certain resources are not counted, such as a home and property, and the resources of people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Work First.

Food Assistance

The Food Stamp Program is a federal program that provides a monthly allotment of Food Stamp benefits issued via Electronic Benefit Transfer cards (ATM cards). The Food Stamp Program is an entitlement program, so all eligible individuals and households can receive assistance. Food Stamp benefits may be used to purchase most foods at participating authorized (FNS) retailers.

Items that may not be purchased with food stamps include:

• tobacco
• pet food
• paper products
• soap products
• alcoholic beverages

Eligible households must be given the opportunity to receive Food Stamp benefits no later than thirty days from the date of application. Individuals with special circumstances must be given an opportunity to receive Food Stamp benefits no later than seven days from the date of application.

Allowed deductions from your income include:

• child support payments
• medical bills
• rent
• fuel and utility
• day care expenses

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Household Composition
• Citizenship/Immigration Status
• Work Requirements
• Resources
• Income

Household Composition
Individuals residing together, but purchasing and preparing their meals separately, may participate in the Food Stamp Program as a separate household. Some individuals, whether they purchase and prepare their meals separately, must participate in the Food Stamp Program as one household.

Individuals who must participate in the Food Stamp Program as one household are:

• Individuals living together who purchase/prepare their food together or will do so upon receipt of food assistance
• Spouses living together or individuals representing themselves as husband and wife to the community
• Individuals under 22 living with a parent
• Individuals under 18 under the parental control of an adult living in the home; or
• Two unmarried adults living in the same home who are parents of a mutual child

The Food Stamp Program is an entitlement program, so all eligible individuals and households can receive assistance. Food Stamp benefits may be used to purchase most foods at participating stores. They may not be used to purchase tobacco, pet food, paper products, soap products, or alcoholic beverages.

Eligible households must be given the opportunity to receive Food Stamp benefits no later than thirty days from the date of application. Individuals with special circumstances must be given an opportunity to receive Food Stamp benefits no later than seven days from the date of application.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Income
All households must meet an income test to receive benefits. Income limits vary by household size.

Income Reference Chart
Household Size	Gross Income	Maximum Benefit Allotment
1	$973	$141
2	$1313	$259
3	$1654	$371
4	$1994	$471
5	$2334	$560
6	$2674	$672
7	$3014	$743
8	$3354	$849
+ Each Add'l Member (+334)		(+106)

You *may* be eligible for food stamp benefits if your total income falls below the gross income limits for your household size. Please be aware that the eligibility workers at your local county Department of Social Services have many other variables to consider in determining if you are eligible.

"Household" size refers to the number in the household who may be eligible for food stamp benefits. Individuals receiving SSI may have different eligibility criteria.

Household Composition
Individuals residing together, but purchasing and preparing their meals separately, may participate in the Food Stamp Program as a separate household. Some individuals, whether they purchase and prepare their meals separately, must participate in the Food Stamp Program as one household.

Individuals who must participate in the Food Stamp Program as one household are:

• Individuals living together who purchase/prepare their food together or will do so upon receipt of food assistance
• Spouses living together or individuals representing themselves as husband and wife to the community
• Individuals under 22 living with a parent
• Individuals under 18 under the parental control of an adult living in the home; or
• Two unmarried adults living in the same home who are parents of a mutual child

Citizenship/Immigration Status
Each member of the Food Stamp household must be an U. S. Citizen or an immigrant admitted to the United States under a specific immigration status. Citizens and eligible immigrants must also meet all other Food Stamp Program eligibility requirements to receive assistance.

Work Requirements
Some individuals are required to participate in Food Stamp work programs, such as, Employment and Training and Work Fare. Some individuals have to meet special work requirements. These are able-bodied adults without dependent children. These individuals must be between the ages of 18 and 49. They may only receive Food Stamp benefits for three months out of a 36-month period.

This requirement does not apply if the adult:

• Is working 20 hours a week (or 80 hours a month), or is engaging in a variety of allowable work-related activities for the same amount of time (such as Employment and Training, JTPA, etc.), or
• Is pregnant or disabled, or
• lives in a home where a child under the age of 18 resides.

In addition, some adults in certain economically distressed counties are exempt from this requirement.

Resources
Households may have $2,000 in countable resources, such as a bank accounts and vehicles. Households may have $3,000 if at least one person is age 60 or older or disabled. Certain resources are not counted, such as a home and surrounding property, and the resources of people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Work First.

Totally exclude the following licensed or unlicensed vehicles, regardless of use:

• One motor vehicle per adult (age 18 or older) or emancipated Food Stamp Unit (FSU) household member whether licensed or unlicensed and
• Vehicles with equity value of less than or equal to $1500, whether licensed or unlicensed

Totally exclude the following licensed vehicles:

• Vehicles used for long distance travel essential to the employment of a FSU member;
• Vehicles used to transport a physically disabled FSU member;
• Vehicles used to carry the FSU's main source of water or heating fuel for home use;
• Income producing vehicles
• Vehicles used as a home
• Leased vehicles

For all other vehicles, count the equity value (fair market value minus the amount owed).

More Food Stamp Info (click ont the links below)

Food Stamp Program Frequently Asked Questions
USDA

Forms
Food Stamps
English I Espanol

Social Security Number Notice
English I Espanol

*You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the forms. You can dowload it below: