Step 1 (optional): Take the pre-screening 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 social services. Find the office nearest you here.
Note: For assistance, please call: 1-800-662-7030
Applying For North Carolina Food Stamps
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was built to help support people who don’t have the funds to cover their food each month. SNAP supplied aid to over 40 million Americans in 2010.
SNAP or the Food Stamps Program is entitled Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) in North Carolina. The FNS program is maintained to bring extra grocery spending money to families and individuals who do not have enough money to buy healthy, nutritious food. FNS does sometimes account for a persons entire food budget.
Low income households located in the U.S. can submit an application for food stamps benefits regardless of what their race, sex, religion, or background is. In the year 2008, those given aid from FNS averaged $101 in food assistance each month.
Food And Nutrition Services Information
To get accepted into the FNS program, you will need to match several monetary and situational requirements. During the application process, and interview, you will need to have certain documents with you.
For most folks below the age of 60, you cannot possess more than $2,000 in assets. If a person in your house, or you, are more than 60 years old, then the limit is raised up to $3,000. In the event you are presently being given aid from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF), or accept Supplemental Security Income (SSI), these don’t count as assets when you apply for food stamps. What is counted as assets is any cash you have, money you have saved in a bank account, or your vehicle (in some instances).
Filing As A Separate Household
If you buy and prepare your meals for yourself or you and someone else while excluding others living in the same residence, you may be qualified to receive food stamp benefits as a separate household. For instance, if you and your family live in the same home as your sister and her family but you keep your groceries and the resulting expenses separate, you may qualify as two separate household even though you share the same home.
Any one or more of the following circumstances will disqualify you from filing as a separate household.
- multiple people who live together and buy and/or make food together on a regular basis (or will when they begin receiving FNS).
- A married couple living together (or two people acting as husband and wife without legal documentation).
- A person or person below the age of 22 who is currently living with a parent.
- A minor who is living in the same home and abiding by the rules of a legal guardian.
- Two adults who are not married but are both parents of a child together.
Additional Information
There is also an income limit, that relies on the number of people living in your household at the time that you apply for food stamps.
The total of your expenses will also be considered. The amount you spend for child or elderly care, rent or mortgage and utilities will all be taken into account. Some medical related expenses may also be considered under certain circumstances.
The EBT Card
When you are accepted into the FNS program, you’ll be given an electronic benefits transfer card (EBT). An EBT card is very similar to a debit card and may be used at many grocery stores, and even some qualifying convenience stores or farmers markets.
What Day Are My Food Stamps Available?
In North Carolina, your food stamps will become available on different days based on the last number of your social security card. If the last number of your social security card is a 1, your food stamps will be refilled on the 3rd of the month. For the rest of the numbers, food stamps are deposited every two days thereafter respectively.
- 1=3rd of the month
- 2=5th of the month
- 3=7th of the month
- 4=9th of the month
- 5=11 of the month
- 6=13 of the month
- 7=15 of the month
- 8=17 of the month
- 9=19 of the month
- 0=21 of the month
If you do not have a social security card number, your benefits will be transferred on the 3rd of every month as long as you are eligible.