The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”), better known as the Food Stamp program, is a popular general welfare assistance benefit source for millions of Americans each year. Recent estimates show that almost half of all recipients under the Food Stamps program include children age 17 or younger. The purpose of the Food Stamp program is to provide cash that can then be used to purchase allowable food-related items and help families meet a minimal standard of living when it comes to their dining options. The Food Stamps program is overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture and is administered on a local level by each individual state’s department of welfare (or department of social services – depending on your state).
A big part of whether you qualify for Food Stamps is whether your household’s income is below a certain level. To assist individuals with determining whether their income will meet their particular state’s income requirements, the United States Department of Agriculture has produced a Food Stamps calculator. This Food Stamps calculator will not replace doing independent investigation into your state’s actual requirements. However, because much of the Food Stamps laws are federally-based, it will be fairly accurate. In this article we will break down what information the USDA calculator will ask from you so that you can be prepared to accurately enter your information into it.
The Food Stamps calculator consists of ten to twelve steps, depending on what your answers are in the calculator. In step 1 the USDA wants to know what state you live in, whether you are completing this application on your own or on behalf of someone else and how you heard of the calculator’s existence. In step 2 you need to list how many people live in your particular household. This is very important for determining whether you will meet the Food Stamp income guidelines. For purposes of the Food Stamp program, a household is made up of all individuals (whether they are related or not) who live under the same roof if the others do not make their own food purchases. In step 2 you also need to explain whether any individual in the household is a mirgrant, seasonal or farm worker and whether the household is actually homeless or living in some type of shelter.
In step 3 you must list the names, ages, citizenship status and whether the individual is disabled or not. Your household income can be higher and still meet all income requirements for the Food Stamp program if disabled individuals live with you or those who are age 65 or older. In step 4 you need to list what assets all members of the household has. This includes any cash in a bank account, cash value in life insurance policies, stocks, bonds, burial plots and more. In step 5 you will need to detail the income earned by all members of the household. Give your gross income and list whether the income stated is earned weekly, monthly or some other way.
Step 7 asks for all unearned income generated by household members. This will include disability payments, dividends, interest payable, child support, alimony, social security and more. Step 8 wants to know what your monthly rent or mortgage costs and whether you or your landlord is responsible for certain monthly utility payments. You can also deduct certain amounts for real estate taxes paid if you own your home.
Step 9 asks for how much child support any household members are currently paying to others not living inside the household. If you owe child support you may be asked to detail more information related to it in the calculator.
In Conclusion
Following the entry of these pieces of information on the Food Stamps calculator you will get a rough estimation of whether you qualify for benefits or not. The calculator will also notify you of whether you may qualify for additional general welfare programs such as the WIC Program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (“TANF”) program.
Source: snap-step1.usda.gov/fns/index.jsp
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