How to Get Food Stamps in Your State

Food stamps can help you feed your family in a time of need.

If you are struggling to make ends meet, using food stamps can help you get back on your feet financially. Food stamps - the paper stamps used at grocery stores to buy food - have been used for over 40 years by low-income families and individuals who need a helping hand. In the fall of 2008, the Food Stamp Program was officially renamed SNAP - the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The new name includes the word "supplemental" because it is intended to be used along with the money you already have set aside for groceries. Instead of issuing paper stamps to eligible participants, the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service now issues SNAP EBT (Electronic Balance Transfer) Cards that can be used like bank debit cards at participating grocery stores (June 17, 2009 was the last day participating stores accepted paper food stamps in the United States). No one likes to admit when they need financial help to buy food, but using the SNAP food stamp program to feed your family is nothing to be ashamed of. Here's how to get food stamps in your state:

Instructions

1. 

   Find out if you are eligible for food stamps by using the SNAP Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool listed in the resources below. In most cases, low-income families, individuals, the elderly, disabled and homeless have food stamp eligibility.

2. 

   Apply online, in person, by mail or by fax depending on the type of application process your state allows. Many states offer online applications - check out the "SNAP Online Applications Listed by State" in the resources below. If you don't have a computer or internet connection at home, you can visit your local library and use their computer instead.

   If your state doesn't have an online application, locate the SNAP office in your area and request a paper application. State SNAP offices and hotline phone numbers can be found under "SNAP Office Locator" (interactive national map) and "SNAP Hotlines Listed by State" (phone numbers list by state) in the resources below. When applying in person, be sure to bring a few snacks and a drink - you may be there for several hours filling out forms and waiting for an interview. Some SNAP offices allow you to fax your application in when it's completed, so be sure to check with a SNAP office representative for application submission options.

3. Since SNAP is a federal program run by state and local agencies, keep in mind that the application process and documentation requirements may vary in each state. If you need food stamps for your entire family, you also have the option to apply for SNAP benefits at your local Social Security Office (assuming that is more convenient for you). If you are unable to apply in person, you can appoint someone to apply and interview for SNAP benefits on your behalf.

4. 

   Submit your application and wait for a SNAP representative to schedule an interview for you. You will find out during your interview if you are eligible for the SNAP food stamp program. The SNAP representative may ask you to bring specific documents for your interview. Be prepared to present any of the following items: driver's license, birth certificate, social security card, proof of income, proof of residency, childcare expenses, housing expenses, utility bills, medical bills (if over age 60), alien registration card, unemployment records, pension statements, alimony statements, income tax returns, rental income, bank records, stock and bond certificates, trust fund agreements, passport, etc. (this is not an exhaustive list).

5. 

   If you need food stamps immediately, inform the SNAP office about your situation. If you qualify, you can receive emergency food stamps within a week. Otherwise you will receive food stamp benefits within 30 days.

6. 

   Don't expect to receive a fortune in food stamps every month. In 2009, the allotment payout ranged from $200 for one person to $1,200 for a family of eight. Check out the "How Much Money Will I Receive?" link in the resources below for the most up to date food stamp allotment listings per family member.

7. If your application is approved and you receive a SNAP EBT card, be sure to protect the card and your four digit pin number! Using a SNAP EBT card is like using a bank debit card - anyone can use it if they have the pin number. It's hard to replace lost or stolen EBT cards, so if you lose or misplace the card, you and your family will go without the extra money until it's replaced.

8. 

   Once you get back on your feet financially, discontinue using the SNAP food stamp program. When you no longer need the money, leave it in the system for someone else who does.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use your SNAP food stamp benefits to purchase food, plants and seeds (to grow food). You cannot use the SNAP EBT card to purchase alcohol, cigarettes, hot foods or nonfood items like toothpaste or makeup.

• You might also qualify for other federal food programs, so be sure to inquire about each of the following programs when you contact your local SNAP office (they can direct you to the appropriate office for each): Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Nutrition Program for the Elderly, Food Distribution Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Programs, School Food Programs, Summer Food Service Programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

• If you lose your SNAP EBT card, contact the SNAP office immediately.

• If someone you know is using SNAP benefits when they don't need them, please report the situation to your local SNAP office or your District Attorney General.

• If you don't qualify for SNAP because of your income, but are pregnant or have young children, apply for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) instead - their income limitations are higher.

• Don't beat yourself up about having to apply for food stamps! The last thing your family needs is for you to feel guilty about it - there is probably enough stress in your life as it is.

• Never lie or withhold income information on a SNAP food stamps application. It is likely that the state will find out and put you in jail for benefits fraud.

Resources

• How to Pay Off a Lot of Debt
• How to Get The Most For Your Money In This Economy
• SNAP Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool
• SNAP Office Locator
• SNAP Online Applications Listed by State
• SNAP Hotlines Listed by State
• SNAP Questions and Answers
• USDA FNS SNAP Program
• How Much Money Will I Receive?
• Budgeting Entitlements: The Politics of Food Stamps
• Eating Right for a Bad Gut: The Complete Nutritional Guide to Ileitis, Colitis, Crohn's Disease, & Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Food & You: Eating Right, Being Strong, and Feeling Great
• Your Whole Life: The 3D Plan for Eating Right, Living Well, and Loving God
• When Bad Things Happen to Good People
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC)