How Does a Person Qualify for the Food Stamp Program?
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Introduction
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The Food Stamp Program or Supplemental Nutrition Program is a government assistance program to help low-income families purchase groceries and obtain the nutrition needed to stay healthy. This program is available in each state and in order to receive monthly food stamps, you must meet certain requirements.
Ensure That You Qualify
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In order to qualify for the Food Stamp Program, a social worker with your local Department of Human Services will evaluate you and your family. He will determine whether your family is able to qualify based on the income you receive each month, your monthly bills and how many individuals are in your household. In most cases, you must not have more than $2,000 to $3,000 in assets in order to qualify. This includes bank accounts, bonds and similar items of value.
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Food Stamp Application
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The first thing you must do is fill out an application for the Food Stamp Program. These applications can be obtained through your local Department of Human Services or printed from the Internet. The completed application will need to be returned to your local Department of Human Services so it can set up an appointment with you. To find the contact information for your own local DHS, look in the government pages of your local phone book. (See the Resources section below.)
Appointment and Required Information
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After you have turned in your application for the Food Stamp Program, your social worker will make you an appointment at the local DHS. He will send out a letter to notify you of the appointment date and time.
You will be required to bring certain information with you, including but not limited to your four most recent paycheck stubs and those of any other adults in the house that work, your most recent monthly bills, social security cards and birth certificates of everyone in your household and drivers' licenses or IDs for all adults living in the household. You may also need to bring bank statements. Your social worker will give you an information sheet in your letter that tells you everything you must bring.
After the Appointment
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After your appointment, someone from DHS will review your application and determine whether you and your family are eligible for the Food Stamp Program. If you are, you will be given an electronic benefits card that works like a debit card. This card will be loaded with the determined amount, in dollars, of food stamps you will receive each month. If you are an able-bodied adult, you may also need to register for the work program, which can help you find a job.
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Resources
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