Step 1 (optional): Take the prescreening test here.
Step 2: Apply by printing out an application here.
Step 3: Mail, fax, or deliver your completed application to your local Department of Public Assistance (DPA). Find your local DPA here.
Note: For assistance, contact your local department of public assistance here.
Applying For Montana Food Stamps
In order to assist low income people having difficulty purchasing food, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) was developed. SNAP is frequently known as food stamps, given that in earlier times, colored stamps were given and utilized to purchase food items. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as food stamps) helps millions of persons. In reality, it assisted over 40 million persons in the year 2010.
Any person inside the United States may apply for food stamps, regardless of their particular background, race, sex, or religious beliefs. The typical person acquired $101/month through the SNAP program in 2008, allowing them to purchase bread, dairy, meat, produce, fruits and even garden seeds.
Simple Application Requirements
In order to be accepted into the food stamp program, you must fulfill several monetary and situational requirements. Throughout the application process, and interview, you will need to have specific documents readily available.
In the majority of cases, 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 in your home is no less than 60 years old, that limit is raised to $3,000. In case you are currently getting aid from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF), or accept Supplemental Security Income (SSI), these do not count as assets when you apply for food stamps. What is counted as assets is any cash you’ve got, money that you have saved in a bank account, or even your vehicle (in some cases).
There’s also an income limit, which will depend on the number of people living in your household at the time that you apply for food stamps.
The sum of your expenses is also factored in. If you’re paying for child or elderly care, rent, mortgage, or utilities; all of those expenses will be taken into account. In addition, there are also certain medical expenses that may count towards your total expenses when you are applying for food stamps.
If you and your family are only making less than $150 each month and have less than $100 in resources such as cash or savings, you may be eligible to receive expedited food stamps. That means you can start buying food within one week of applying.
The Montana Access EBT Card
Once you are accepted into the SNAP program, you will get an electronic benefits transfer card (EBT). The EBT card may be used like a debit card to buy food at certain grocery stores, convenience stores, or even farmer markets.
The EBT card in Montana is called the Montana Access card. Before you can use your Montana Access card, you must first select a pin number for use at cash registers. To set your pin number, call (866)850-1556. Your call will be answered by an automatic answering service. Without having to talk to a single person you can set your pin number and be on your way in no time.
Calling that number you can also find out how many food stamps you have left, get help with your card and take a look at the last ten purchases you made with your Montana Access card. Each month your food stamps will be transferred to your Montana Access card automatically.