Office of Integrated Access and Support
Food Stamps - How to Apply
Purpose of the Food Stamp Program:
The Food Supplement Program helps low-income households buy the food
they need for good health. The amount of Food Supplement benefits each household receives is
based on the Thrifty Food Plan...the model diet plan the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
uses to project the cost of food for one month for different household sizes.
Who May Get Food Supplement Program
How to Apply for Food Supplement Program
About the Interview
About Proof Required
If you Qualify
If You Do Not Qualify
Spending Your Food Supplement Program
Reporting Changes
Penalty Warning
Who May Get Food Supplement benefits:
You may qualify for Food Supplement benefits if you:
- Have little or no income,
- Are unemployed or work part-time,
- Work for low wages,
- Receive public assistance payments
- Are elderly or disabled and live on a small income, and have limited resources.
Your household must meet certain income and resource limits. The amount of Food Supplement benefits
you receive also depends upon the number of people in your household. You may be asked to register
for work.
Food Supplement benefits are only intended to be part of a food budget. Most households must
spend some of their own cash along with their Food Supplement benefits in order to buy enough
food for a month.
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How to apply for Food Supplement benefits:
Ask for an application
Your local Food Supplement Program Office gives you a Food Supplement Program Application form
on the same day you ask for one.
You can ask for it....
Turn In Application
- Bring in your application as soon as possible.
- If you qualify, benefits start from the date you turn in your application.
- If you qualify, you receive Food Supplement within 30 days.
Most of the time, you can be interviewed the day you bring in your application.
Expedited Service
If your household has little or no money and needs help right away, you may qualify for expedited
service. You may get Food Supplement within a few days.
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About The Interview:
At the interview, the worker:
- Explains the program rules,
- Helps you complete any parts of the application you have not filled in,
- Asks you for proof of certain information provided,
- Gives you a copy of your rights and responsibilities,
- Tells you if you must register for work.
AND
- Explains anything you don't understand.
Most fFood Supplement Program interviews are held in the Food Supplement Program office. If
you cannot get to the office, someone who knows your circumstances can apply and be interviewed
for you.
Call the office if you cannot find someone to go for you. If you qualify, you may be interviewed over the phone.
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Proof Required
You are required to show papers providing household's statements. We need that proof to make a decision on your application.
You should have the following proof for your interview:
- Identity
- Address - Where you live, if you have no address, tell the Food Supplement Program office
where you stay.
- Income - for all household members. This includes gross earnings before deductions.
You will be asked for more proof if any of the following applies to your household:
- Immigration status - Lawfully admitted alien status for each alien household member.
- Current utility bills - If you claim utility cost in excess of the standard utility allowance.
- Cost for baby sitting, day care or attendant care - While searching for a job, training for work, or working.
- Medial expenses - Non-reimbursed costs over $35 per month for any person 60 years of age or older or disabled.
- Disability
- Resources of an alien's sponsor - The Food Supplement Program office may have to count some
of your sponsor's income.
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If You Qualify
After the interview, the Food Supplement Program office sends you a letter. The letter explains
how many Food Supplement benefits you will get. It also tells you how long you get Food Supplement
benefits before you must reapply.
Unless you get your Food Supplement benefits within a few days because you qualify for expedited
services, you will get your Food Supplement Program no later than 30 days from the date you applied.
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If You Do Not Qualify
The Food Supplement Program office sends you a letter that tells you why. If you think your
application was incorrectly denied or you did not receive the correct amount of Food Supplement
benefits, you should tell the worker at the Food Supplement Program office. If the worker does
not agree with you, you can ask to have your case reviewed by a fair hearing official.
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Spending Your Food Supplement benefits:
Food Supplement benefits can be used like cash at authorized stores. Food Supplement benefits
can only be used to buy food, and plants and seeds to grow food for your household to eat.
Pay for Food Supplement benefits AFTER the store cashier shows the amount due for your purchase.
Food Supplement benefits can be used by the elderly and their spouses, Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) recipients and their spouses, and homeless households to purchase meals at approved
restaurants, approved congregate eating sites, and approved meals on wheels.
Food Supplement benefits cannot buy:
- Alcoholic beverages;
- Tobacco or cigarettes;
- Household supplies, soaps and paper products;
- Any other nonfood items;
- Food eaten in the store;
- Hot foods that are ready-to-eat, like barbecued chicken; and
- Pet foods.
Reminder:
All food products and drinks you buy with Food Supplement benefits are exempt from sales tax.
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Reporting Changes:
You must report changes in your circumstances within 10 days after they occur.
It is important you report changes in circumstances affecting your eligibility so your household
receives the right amount of Food Supplement benefits.
If you receive extra Food Supplement benefits because you did not report a change, you will
owe the Food Stamp Program the value of these stamps.
Changes may be reported by:
- A change report form,
- letter,
- telephone,
- in person at your local Food Supplement Program office.
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Penalty Warning
For your household to receive Food Supplement benefits, you must follow the program rules.
Any member of your household found to have intentionally violated a program rule can be disqualified
from the Food Supplement Program for:
- One (1) year for the first violation
- Two (2) years for the second violation or for the first offense of trading Food Supplement
benefits for illegal drugs, and
- Permanently for the third violation or for the second offense of trading Food Supplement
benefits for illegal drugs or the first offense of trading Food Supplement benefits for firearms,
ammunition or explosives.
Additional penalties include fines up to $250,000, imprisonment up to twenty (20) years, or both, and prosecution under applicable federal law.
Information offered by you on any food stamp form is subject to verification by federal and state employees.
The Food Supplement Program is administered under agreement with U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The basic rules are the same throughout the United States.
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