Step 1: Apply for food stamps in one of the following ways:
- Apply by mail, fax, phone, or in person by contacting your local Health and Welfare office.
- Print out a food stamp application here.
Step 2: To find contact information for your local Health and Welfare office, click here.
For general assistance, please call 1-800-926-2588.
What You Will Need To Apply For Food Stamps
Your Identification Paperwork
Your driver’s license, official ID card, U.S. Passport, School I.D. or records, U.S. Military ID, or Birth Certificate is needed to confirm your identity. If you do not possess any of these items, you can call 1-877-456-1233 to figure out another way to identify yourself.
Your Gross Income Information
You will need to provide any wage stubs from the last month of work that you completed as well as proof of any income you made from somewhere other than your place of employment. If you are self-employed or get your income from some other source, you will need to provide your latest tax returns or a self-employment verification form. Self-employment verification forms are available from your caseworker. You may also need to provide child support information which can be in the form of a verifying paper from your child support agency. Other proof of gross income may include your veteran’s benefits, unemployment received from another state, workers comp, and retirement money.
Additional Required Proof
Other proof that may be needed includes your resource information, medical expenses, citizenship status, and child support information whether it is received or paid. For the complete list of requirements and the documents needed for proof, click here.
Applying For Idaho Food Stamps
Food stamps, or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) as it is currently technically called, was set up to help out persons living in the U.S. who are experiencing difficulty paying for food items because they’re earning a low income. SNAP granted help to over 40 million Americans in 2010.
Any individual inside of the United States can apply for food stamps, regardless of their background, race, sex, or religious beliefs. Just how much a particular person receives in assistance from SNAP depends on a few factors, but in the year 2008, the average person received $101 a month.
In order to be accepted into the food stamp program, you will need to meet some monetary as well as situational requirements. Throughout the application process, and interview, you will need to have certain documents on hand.
In the majority of situations, if you are under 60 years old, it is a requirement for you to not have any more than $2,000 in assets. If you or somebody within your household is no less than 60 years old, that limit is raised to $3,000. TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income), aren’t regarded as assets when you are applying for food stamps. Although, cash, what is in a bank account, and potentially your current vehicle, are counted as assets.
One more requirement is an income limit, that is affected by the number of people you’ve got dwelling in your household when you are applying for food stamps.
How much your expenses are will also be looked at while making a request for SNAP benefits. The total amount you spend for child or elderly care, rent or mortgage and utilities will all be taken into account. If you have medical related bills, these can also be looked at.
Once you are accepted into the SNAP program, you’ll get an electronic benefits transfer card (EBT). The EBT card works similar to a debit card. The EBT card can be utilized to buy food items at specific grocery stores, convenience stores, or farmers markets.
To check your EBT food stamps balance as well as report problems with your card such as it being damaged, lost or stolen, click here. This link also allows you to change your pin number and contact customer service.