NYC Food Stamps
The national Food Stamp program underwent a name change in October 2008 and is now formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. However, anyone interested in receiving these types of benefits will still commonly refer to the program as Food Stamps. The Food Stamp program is set forth federal law but is administered on a local level for each individual state. This includes New York State and New York City, where the New York City (“NYC”) Department of Social Services, Human Resources Administration manages this particular general welfare program.
Many people have a series of common misconceptions and misunderstandings in regards to how to qualify for NYC Food Stamps and receive a Food Stamp card. Furthermore, for people who do have a sense for how to qualify, the actual intricacies of how to meet each of those qualifications can be quite confusing. The goal of this post is to eliminate that confusion and to show you what you must do in order to receive NYC Food Stamps.
Two Tests To Pass
In order to receive NYC Food Stamps you must pass two tests: a resources and income examination. In general, you must show the New York City Department of Social Services that you have less than $2000 in “countable assets”. This number goes up to $3000 if anybody in your household is disabled or elderly. Countable assets will include just about anything that has any worth, including bank accounts and retirement assets, but does not include the home you live in and one household automobile.
You must also pass and income examination. The income guidelines for Food Stamps are split into three steps. The first step involves looking at the gross income for the entire household that is applying for NYC Food Stamps. The amount of income you are allowed to have under this gross income test will vary based on how many people live in your household. The more people you have the more amount of money you are allowed to make. If you pass this first-ever move onto step two, where the Department of Social Services will apply predetermined deductions to your gross income amount and come up with a net income for the household. Finally, in step three, that net income amount must fall underneath the income limitations set forth by the Department for the household size that you have. Unless you meet all three steps of this income test your application will be denied and you will not qualify for Food Stamps.
Receiving Benefits
After your NYC Food Stamps application is been approved, you will receive a Food Stamp card. This card utilizes Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) technology. The EBT NY Food Stamp card acts very much like a normal debit card does. The Department of Social Services will establish an account that is connected to your EBT NY card. Each month that account will be funded with a predetermined dollar amount that can then be spent with the card at any traditional grocery store for items either approved by the Department. Most common grocery items can be purchased with the card. However, tobacco, alcohol, and prescription drugs are prohibited from being purchased with Food Stamp funds.
An additional benefit of the EBT technology is the ability of recipients to check Food Stamp balance amounts left other card at any given time. You can simply log into the Departments website through predetermined username and password that will be set up through your Food Stamp program application to see this dollar amount.
Hopefully this article will help you answer the question “What Are Food Stamps?” And help you be more prepared before you submit your NYC Food Stamps application.
Related posts:
