Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Integrated Access and Support
(Formerly Bureau of Family Independence (BFI))
Food Stamps - How to Apply
Purpose of the Food Stamp Program:
The Food Stamp Program provides food stamps that help low-income households buy the food they need for good health. The amount of food stamps 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 Stamps
How to Apply for Food Stamps
About the Interview
About Proof Required
If you Qualify
If You Do Not Qualify
Spending Your Food Stamps
Reporting Changes
Penalty Warning
Who May Get Food Stamps:
You may qualify for food stamps 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 stamps you receive also depends upon the number of people in your household. You may be asked to register for work.
Food Stamps are only intended to be part of a food budget. Most households must spend some of their own cash along with their food stamps in order to buy enough food for a month.
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How to apply for food stamps:
Ask for an application
Your local Food Stamp Office gives you a food Stamp 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 stamps 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 stamps 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 food stamp interviews are held in the Food Stamp 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 Stamp 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 Stamp office may have to count some of your sponsor's income.
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If You Qualify
After the interview, the Food Stamp office sends you a letter. The letter explains how many food stamp benefits you will get. It also tells you how long you get food stamps before you must reapply.
Unless you get your Food Stamps within a few days because you qualify for expedited services, you will get your Food Stamps no later than 30 days from the date you applied.
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If You Do Not Qualify
The Food Stamp 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 stamps, you should tell the worker at the Food Stamp 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 Stamps:
Food Stamps can be used like cash at authorized stores. Food Stamps can only be used to buy food, and plants and seeds to grow food for your household to eat.
Tear out the correct amount of food stamps from the books AFTER the store cashier shows the amount due for your purchase.
Food stamps 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 Stamps 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 stamps 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 stamps.
If you receive extra food stamps 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 stamp office.
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Penalty Warning
For your household to receive food stamps, 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 Stamp program for:
- One (1) year for the first violation
- Two (2) years for the second violation or for the first offense of trading food stamps for illegal drugs, and
- Permanently for the third violation or for the second offense of trading food stamps for illegal drugs or the first offense of trading food stamps 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 Stamp 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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