What is the Food Stamp Program? |
The Food Stamp Program helps people with little or no income buy nutritious food. Food stamp benefits are not cash. They come on an electronic card that you use like a bank card to buy food. Most grocery stores take food stamp benefits.
Can I get food stamp benefits? |
To get food stamp benefits, your income and your other resources have to be under certain limits.
• Income: Your total income, before taxes or any other subtractions, is called gross income.
However, the program allows certain subtractions from your gross income, called deductions.
These can be for things you pay for like housing costs, child support payments, medical expenses
over $35 a month for elderly or disabled people, or child-care costs. The amount left over after
these deductions is called net income.
There are two income limits: gross income and net income. If your household has a person who is 60 or older or who is disabled, you only need to meet the net income limit. If everyone in your household receives SSI or TANF, you do not need to meet any of the income limits. Most households must meet both gross and net income limits.
Look at the income table to find out what the gross and net income limits are for food stamp benefits. The amounts in this table are good from October 1, 2007, to September 30, 2008.
People
in
Household |
Gross
Monthly
Income* |
Net
Monthly
Income* |
1 |
$1,107 |
$857 |
2 |
1,484 |
1,141 |
3 |
1,861 |
1,431 |
4 |
2,238 |
1,721 |
5 |
2,615 |
2,011 |
6 |
2,992 |
2,301 |
7 |
3,369 |
2,591 |
8 |
3,746 |
2,881 |
*Larger households can have more income. Amounts
are higher in Alaska and Hawaii. People who receive
SSI in California are not eligible.
Do I need a Social Security number? |
Yes, you must get a Social Security number if you want food stamp benefits. Not all people in the household have to join the program. People in the household who do not want food stamp benefits do not have to give a Social Security number. But they do have to give their financial information.
• Resources: Your resources are things like bank accounts. To qualify for food stamp benefits, your household may have up to $2,000 in resources. If your household has a person who is 60 or
older or who is disabled, you may have up to $3,000 in resources. The resources of people who receive TANF or SSI do not count. Your home does not count as a resource. In some States, at least one car does not count as a resource.
Can I get food stamp benefits if I am not working? |
Yes, but if you are able to work, you must look for work, take a job, or go to training.
Can legal noncitizens get food stamp benefits? |
Maybe. Ask your food stamp worker. Even if you can’t get benefits, household members born in this country can. Getting food stamp benefits won’t hurt you if you want to become a citizen.
How do I apply for food stamp benefits? |
If you think you might be eligible for food stamp benefits and want to apply, you need to contact The South Texas Food Bank to help you fill out the food stamp application by phone or in person by visiting us at 1709 Freight St.
Contact the office at 956-726-3120 or
956-726-0888 and ask for:
Alma D. Blanco
Estela Villarreal
Norma Alvarez
Arturo Garza
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You can also print the application here:
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