How to apply for SNAP food stamps

More than 40 million low-income individuals and families receive benefits from the United States government to combat hunger and poor nutrition. There are several social assistance programs to provide basic and nutritious food, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The SNAP program provides food stamps on a monthly basis as a measure of food assistance. Read on to learn more about the program, and if you're eligible, take advantage of this government benefit to feed yourself and your family.

What is SNAP help?

SNAP food assistance comes from the Department of Agriculture (USDA), an agency that works with state agencies, nutrition educators, and faith-based and community organizations to ensure access to healthy food for those qualify. More than 40 million people are benefited by this program, which is achieved largely thanks to the distribution of money to buy food through an electronic card.

Please note that SNAP is the name of the program at the federal level, but programs at the state level may be called something else. In the case of California it is called CalFresh , for example, or in the case of New Jersey it is called the Food Stamp Program .

What You Need to Know: During the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be easier to get help from SNAP and other federal food benefit programs because the government has provided them with supplemental funds. In addition, it is now possible to enroll in these programs through the Internet, thus reducing the risk of contagion from the coronavirus.

What can you buy with food stamps

If you are eligible to receive money to buy food through food stamps, you can use them only to buy SNAP-qualified food. Among them are:

Fruits and vegetables;
meat, chicken and fish;
Dairy products;
Bread and cereals.

What you need to know: Using SNAP food stamps to buy foods of poor nutritional quality, such as microwaveable food, is prohibited. These benefits also cannot be used to purchase items such as pet food, medications, alcoholic beverages, or cigarettes.

Where you can use your food stamps

If you are admitted to the SNAP program, you will be given a card to receive food stamps in the form of an electronic transfer. This card can only be used to buy food at SNAP authorized stores, and it works much like a debit card.

To find out which establishments are authorized by SNAP to make your purchases, use this locator (in English only). Enter your address and you'll instantly know which SNAP-authorized businesses are closest to the address you entered.

Practical guide to apply for food stamps

To apply for SNAP food stamps, it is necessary to meet some immigration and income requirements, as well as follow some steps with which you can put food on the table in your home.

Income Requirements for SNAP Food Stamps

The economic requirements to be a beneficiary of SNAP may be different in each state. Broadly speaking, they can be summarized in the following points:

Each applicant must demonstrate that their monthly income is below the amount set by the government as the poverty line. This amount varies each year and is determined based on where you live and the size of your family.
In some cases, the limit of funds that an applicant can have in their bank account is less than $2,250 dollars, although this amount may be higher in the case of older adults.
The expenses of applicants and their families are calculated as follows:
The number of people heading the household;
If there is an obligation to pay alimony;
If there are drug expenses for disabled or retired people;
If there are housing rental expenses, especially if it exceeds 50% of the applicant's total income.

Immigration Requirements for SNAP Food Stamps

Your immigration status may not be a barrier to applying for SNAP food stamps. The main immigration requirements to request this food assistance are the following:

Be a legal resident and have lived in the US for at least 5 years (note that this does not apply in all cases);
Be under 18 years of age and legally present in the United States;
Be a battered spouse or child with a pending or approved application for an immigrant visa;
Be a battered spouse or child who applied for cancellation of removal;
Have refugee or asylee status, or have your deportation withheld;
Be an active member of the Armed Forces;
Be the spouse or child of a veteran or active duty military;
Be a person with a disability who receives benefits through state or federal programs.

What you should know: If you do not have legal status, but your children are minors with legal status, you can apply for food stamps for them. Be sure to note that the aid will be for the benefit of the children at the time you apply.

Food Stamp Application

At first it will take you a little time to get familiar with the process, however as you go through it you will see that it will be worth it and your loved ones will thank you for it. As mentioned above, SNAP is the name for the federal food stamp program. However, since it is administered in each state by its own state agency, the program may be known by different names in each state and may have slight changes in its eligibility requirements.

How to apply for food stamps

Food stamp applications are usually available at your local Social Security office. However, due to the emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has made online applications available to you. You can find information for your local office at benefits.gov , or call the toll-free SNAP Information Line at 1-800-221-5689.

Food stamps in California

CalFresh is the name by which the food stamp program in California is known. If you are a resident of this state and want to know about the program, you can consult the CalFresh guide in Spanish . If you want to know if you and your family members are eligible to receive food stamps, you can check here .