The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income individuals and families buy the food they need for good health. Although SNAP is the national name, your state may use a different name.
For seniors, it means access to a balanced diet vital to their nutritional well-being. 9 percent of all participants are elderly (age 60 or over).
If you are applying for SNAP benefits, your benefit amount will
depend upon the number of people in your “household”, your “household’s” total monthly income, and certain “household” monthly expenses.
SNAP benefits give a person or family more buying power at the grocery store. You get a special debit card that can be used like an ATM card at most grocery stores, and certain senior centers.
The benefits are not intended to cover all of a family’s food costs, but will lessen the amount of income that must be used toward groceries each month. Once household eligibility is determined, your approved food stamp benefits will be deposited into an account each month. Each time you use your EBT card, your account will be reduced by the cost of the groceries you buy.
For more information concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, call or go to the local SNAP office. Look in the blue pages of your phone book under “Social Services” or “Human Services” to find the number.
If you need help finding your local SNAP office, call the national
toll-free SNAP information line at 1-800-221-5689
When you apply for SNAP benefits, you must must answer all questions completely and honestly, give them proof of some information.
If you are eligible how will you get your benefits?
You will get an EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card. You will use this card to purchase food.
What can you buy with SNAP benefits?
A person may buy only eligible foods with their SNAP benefits. Eligible foods include plants and seeds that can be used to grow food. You cannot buy the following items with SNAP benefits: paper goods, cleaning products, personal care items, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, vitamins or medicine.
What should you bring to the interview?
-An I.D. showing your name
-Proof of your address
-Social security numbers (SSNs) for everyone in your household
-Proof of the amount of money you or anyone in your household has in any bank account
-Proof of all of your household’s income
-Medical bills for anyone who is age 60 or older or who receives a disability check based on full disability
What are your rights as an applicant?
-To have another adult make application for you if you cannot come into the office
-To have a telephone interview if no one can come in for you and you are age 60 or older, or you are disabled, or you have a hardship that makes it impossible for you to appear for the interview
-To receive assistance from a county office worker if you need help completing your application or getting some of the information we need to process your application