How to Know if you Qualify for Food Stamps

Food stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is a program offered by the Food and Nutrition Service. They provide food stamps to low income people so that they can provide food for themselves or families. Find out if you qualify for food stamps. You do not have to be disabled or have children necessarily to apply for food stamps. You can work and still need assistance for food. You may qualify for food stamps in any state you live in.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)has a Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool. You can do the screening online to see if you might qualify to receive food stamps. You won't know unless you try. (See resources section below.)

2. Select the territory or state you live in. Click the continue button. You don't have to fill out the other sections on the first page unless you want to. If there is an asterisk (*) near the question on any page, than you need to answer the question.

3. Some states have their own pre-screening process for food stamps like Alaska. They only ask you a few questions to see if you qualify.
   
   If you get stuck on a question filling out a pre-screening page, be sure to click the question mark at the end of the sentence to get more information.

4. Once you finish the pre-screening application for food stamps, it will tell you if you might qualify for food stamps based on the information you get. It will also tell you where to go to apply for food stamps.

5. Go to the nearest Food Stamp location to your home. You can tell them you did the pre-screening application online and it said you might qualify.

6. Don't feel bad if you may need assistance for yourself or your family. Everyone needs a little help sometimes. If you qualify, you will get something like a credit card that you can use in the stores to buy food. The paper food stamp coupon have ended June 17, 2009.

Tips & Warnings

• You will still have to go into your local food stamp office to apply and fill out a hard copy form for them to put into their system.
• Try and arrive early as you can when you find a food stamp location. It can be very busy.
• Be sure you have some form of Identification on you, like a Drivers License or State ID.

Resources

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool
• Applying for Food Stamps in Indianapolis, Indiana

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on 8/11/2009 Important info and resources. 5*