How to Apply for Food Stamps in Maryland
The state of Maryland offers a food assistance program to help individuals and families in times of economic hardship. Food stamps operate in the same manner as cash. They can be used at grocery and convenience stores to buy most food items with the exception of prepared "hot food" items and items that can be eaten within the store. The state of Maryland does not issue paper coupons, but rather, distributes benefits using the "Independence Card," which operates in the same manner as a debit card. Once you have made your food selections, a benefit holder would take the items to the check out counter and provide the cashier with their Independence Card.
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Instructions
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Check to make sure that you are eligible to receive food assistance benefits. To qualify for the Maryland food stamp program, you must meet several preliminary requirements such as: 1) the "gross income test," which requires that individuals and families earn less than 130 percent of the poverty level, and 2) the "countable resources" limit, which is $2,000 per household and $3,000 for individuals over 60 years of age. Countable resources are amounts held in bank accounts, cash on hand, and real estate (other than your primary home). There are several items that are exempt from being considered countable resources, these include: your vehicle, your home, life insurance policies, household goods, such as dishes and furniture and personal belongings such as clothing.
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Obtain the Maryland Food Stamp Assistance application. You can find this application at your local Department of Social Services location or you can access the application online at the Maryland Department of Human Resources' website. A link to the online application and a listing of local Social Services offices is listed in the Resources section below.
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Complete the Maryland Food Assistance application. The application will request the following information from you: your name, address, phone number, Social Security number, date of birth and whether your household's monthly expenses are greater than its income. You must fill out the application in its entirety in order to be considered for benefits.
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Sign your completed application and submit it online by clicking the "Submit" button at the end of the application questionnaire or you can mail or deliver the application in person to your local Social Services office. A listing of Maryland Social Services offices, including contact information, is located in the Resources section below.
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Complete an interview with a Maryland Social Services case manager. After you submit your application, you will be contacted by the Maryland Social Services department to set up an interview to discuss your application. The purpose of the interview is to review your food assistance application, provide any additional information or documentation that the department may request, such as a bank statement, and for a case manager to fully explain the rules and requirements of the program. If you take you application to your local Social Services Department, you may be interviewed at the time you submit your application.
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