SNAP Food Stamps

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP” or “SNAP Food Stamps”), which is better known as the Food Stamps program throughout the United States, is a national and popular public welfare benefit system that provides people with little or no income with money to spend on basic food necessities. The program dates back to 1939, on the heels of the conclusion of the Great Depression. The program received its name from the fact that, until recent technological changes took place, recipients under the SNAP Food Stamps program receive physical stamps of different colors, which denominated different dollar amounts that individuals had a their discretion to use in local grocery stores to purchase food items.

The reach of the Food Stamps program is growing at a fast rate. Latest estimates show that more than 45 million individuals receive benefits under this program every year. Throughout the country, the average person receives $133.12 worth of benefits each month and almost 1/4 of all children the United States are the benefactors from this general welfare program.

Qualifying For Food Stamps

In order to receive Food Stamps benefits, individuals must demonstrate that they meet two general requirements. First, the applicants cannot have more than a certain dollar amount in “accountable resources”. Second, individuals must demonstrate that their entire household income is below certain limits set by the United States Department of Agriculture (which oversees this program throughout the country in conjunction with local and state department of welfare administrators). Both of these two important requirements will be discussed further in this article.

Food Stamps Asset Limitations

The United States Department of Agriculture limits the amount of “countable resources” that household may have and still receive Food Stamps. For households where no one is considered disabled by the Social Security Administration’s disability program (“SSDI”) or is “elderly” (which is considered age 60 or older for purposes of this program) each household may have up to $2000 in countable resources. Where there is someone who is elderly or disabled, the household may have up to $3000 in countable resources. Not all assets that an individual has will be considered “countable.” For example, your home will not count against you if you’re a homeowner, if you receive TANF benefits (formerly known as the AFDC program) income or Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), these assets be excluded from these considerations. Additionally, most retirement plans are also not countable. Finally, most states exclude one automobile as well. However, if you have any additional assets beyond what is allowed you will be automatically ineligible from receiving SNAP Food Stamps.

Food Stamps Income Limitations

In addition to passing the asset tests, ever individual must show that there particular household has below a certain amount of income every month. The amount of income your allowed to have and still qualify for benefits depends on how many people are in your household. Obviously, the more individuals inside the household the higher the income can be and still receive compensation under this program.

The income test can be broken up into three sections. First, you must show that your gross income is less than 130% of the federal poverty level guidelines. Here’s a breakdown of how those numbers are as of the time that this article was printed:

If your household income is below these thresholds for the given size of your home, the Department of Agriculture within takeout various deductions to reduce your gross income down to a net level. These deductions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• A standard deduction (which equals $142 your household is three or less people and $153 for all other households)
• A deduction on a dollar for dollar basis for all money paid out in child-support obligations
• A straight 20% deduction

After taking these deductions you must then show that your net income is below certain federal and state guidelines.

The Amount Of Your Monthly Benefit

If you qualify for benefits under the SNAP Food Stamps program, you can be entitled to receive a predetermined monthly allotment which can be no more than the following amounts:

Source: fns.usda.gov/snap/applicant_recipients/eligibility.htm

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