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Food Stamps
Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the New York State Food Stamp (FS) Program, known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used like cash at authorized retail food stores. Eligibility and benefit levels are based on household size, income, assets and other factors.
- Food Stamp Benefits - Working hard but still struggling to make ends meet? Food stamp benefits can help you put food on the table. The Food Stamp Program issues monthly benefits that can be used to purchase food at authorized retail food stores. Food stamp benefits help low-income working people, senior citizens, the disabled and others feed their families.
- Food Stamp Eligibility - Eligibility is based on income. If your income is less than or equal to the amounts in the charts supplied (based on your family size), you may be eligible for Food Stamps.
- Applying for Food Stamps – Applying for the Food Stamp Program starts with an application.
- Food Stamps for Working Families - New York is making it easier for working households to apply for the Food Stamp Program through the Working Families Food Stamp Initiative.
- Telephone Recertification for Current Food Stamp Recipients - If you already get food stamp benefits in New York State, as long as you do not also get Temporary Assistance (cash) benefits, you can recertify (renew your benefits) without coming into the social services office.
- Transitional Food Stamp Benefits - If your temporary assistance cash case closes, in most cases, you can still receive food stamps, even if the reason that your case is closing is because you now have too much income to be eligible.
Food Stamp Benefits
Food stamp benefits can help you put healthy food on the table. The Food Stamp Program issues monthly benefits that can be used to purchase food at authorized retail food stores. Food stamp benefits help low-income working people, seniors, the disabled and others feed their families. Benefits are provided through an electronic benefit card, similar to a debit or credit card. Eligibility and benefit levels are based on household size, income, expenses and other factors.
Recent changes to the Food Stamp Program have made it easier for many working households to apply and gain access to these critical nutrition supports. If you work hard but still struggle to make ends meet, you may be able to supplement your food budget through the Food Stamp Program.
OTDA has taken steps to help you provide for your family through the Food Stamp Program.
For more information about how and where to apply, call 1-800-342-3009 press “1” for Food Stamps, or in New York City, call 1-877-472-8411.
For more information about the Federal Administration of the Food Stamp Program, known federally as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), visit: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Food Stamp Eligibility
If your income (based on your family size) is less than or equal to the amounts in the charts below, you may be eligible for food stamp benefits. If your household’s gross income is below these amounts, it does not ensure that you will be eligible for a benefit. A food stamp budget must be calculated for your household in order to determine eligibility and benefit amount. The only way to determine if your household is eligible for food stamp benefits is to apply.
“Income” means your household’s total gross monthly income before taxes and withholdings are subtracted. Benefits from other assistance programs such as Unemployment Insurance Benefits, public assistance payments, Social Security or SSI benefits count as income. Certain household expenses, such as monthly Child Support payments paid by a member of your household for a child who does not live with you, can be deducted from your household’s gross income.
As of January 1, 2008, most households no longer face a resource test when determining eligibility for food stamp benefits. This means that the household’s assets (stocks, savings and retirement accounts, etc.) are not considered when determining eligibility. Please note that if you apply for food stamp benefits, you still may be asked to provide information regarding such resources.
Income Guidelines (no elderly or disabled member)
| Family Size | Monthly Gross Income* | Annual Gross Income* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $ 1,174 | $ 14,088 |
| 2 | $ 1,579 | $ 18,948 |
| 3 | $ 1,984 | $ 23,808 |
| 4 | $ 2,389 | $ 28,668 |
| Each additional person | $ 406 + | $ 4,872 + |
*These figures based upon October 1, 2009 Federal Poverty Levels.
Note: There is no resource test unless someone in the household has been sanctioned or disqualified from the Food Stamp Program. If a household member is sanctioned or disqualified, then the household’s countable resources must not exceed $2000.
Income Guidelines for Households with An Elderly or Disabled Member
| Family Size | Monthly Gross Income* | Annual Gross Income* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $ 1,805 | $ 21,660 |
| 2 | $ 2,428 | $ 29,136 |
| 3 | $ 3,052 | $ 36,624 |
| 4 | $ 3,675 | $ 44,100 |
| Each additional person | $ 623 + | $ 7,476 + |
*These figures based upon October 1, 2009 Federal Poverty Levels.
Note: There is no resource test for households with elderly/disabled members whose income falls at or below the amount listed above, unless a member of the household has been sanctioned or disqualified from participation in the Food Stamp Program. Households with elderly/disabled members whose gross income exceeds these amounts may still be eligible for food stamps, if their countable resources do not exceed $3000.
Income Guidelines for households with Dependent Care Expenses
| Family Size | Monthly Gross Income* | Annual Gross Income* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $ 1,805 | $ 21,660 |
| 2 | $ 2,428 | $ 29,136 |
| 3 | $ 3,052 | $ 36,624 |
| 4 | $ 3,675 | $ 44,100 |
| Each additional person | $ 623 + | $ 7,476 + |
*These figures based upon October 1, 2009 Federal Poverty Levels.
Note: “Dependent Care Expenses” are out-of-pocket costs paid by the household to a caregiver for the care of a child or other dependents (including an incapacitated adult) when the care is necessary for a household member to accept or continue employment or training for employment. Please note that only “out-of-pocket” expenses count. This means that you must pay at least a portion of the expense out of your household income.
Maximum Food Stamp Benefit Allowances
| Household Size | Maximum Allotment |
|---|---|
| 1 | $200 |
| 2 | 367 |
| 3 | 526 |
| 4 | 668 |
| 5 | 793 |
| 6 | 952 |
| 7 | 1,052 |
| 8 | 1,202 |
| For each additional member | 150+ |
Note: A food stamp budget must be calculated for your household in order to determine food stamp eligibility and benefit amount.
It’s Easy to Find out if You May be Eligible for Food Stamps
To find out if you may be eligible for food stamp benefits, visit myBenefits.ny.gov to use the Food Stamps Pre-screening Eligibility Tool. This pre-screening tool is not an application for Food Stamps. An application for food stamps must be submitted to your local Food Stamp office. The current Food Stamp application is available online in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Korean and Russian. To find out the location of your nearest food stamp office, contact your local Department of Social Services.
You Can Now Have Savings and Qualify for Food Stamps
In New York State, the Food Stamp Program now allows you to have more money in a checking or savings account, or even a retirement account or college savings account, without affecting your eligibility for food stamp benefits. As of January 1, 2008, most households applying for food stamp benefits no longer have to pass a savings/resource test in order to get food stamp benefits. This means having money in a savings, checking or retirement account, or having other resources, may not keep you from being eligible for food stamp benefits, as long as you meet the income guidelines.
It’s Easier to Apply for Food Stamps
The process begins with getting an application, filling it out, and filing the form with your local Department of Social Services. You may pick up an application at your local food stamp office, request that an application be mailed to you, apply using the internet if you reside in one of several participating counties, or download the application.
Get Help Applying - In many locations throughout New York State, community organizations can help you get and complete an application for the Food Stamp Program. Most of these organizations can also screen you to see if you might be eligible. For a list of these organizations, visit the Nutritional Outreach Educational Providers website.
Get Help Applying Online - In some New York counties there are community based organizations who will help you apply online for food stamps. After your application is submitted electronically, the local district will review the e-application, conduct an interview, and determine your household’s eligibility for Food Stamps. View a list of locations where you'll find help applying electronically for food stamps.
Apply Online on Your Own - You may apply for food stamps using the internet if you live in a county participating in the Public Online Application Program. In certain counties, if you have access to the internet, you may electronically fill out and submit a food stamp application by going to myBenefits.ny.gov. After your application is submitted, the local district will review your information, conduct an interview, and determine your household’s eligibility for Food Stamps. See a list of counties that support online applications.
Disabled Applicants
If you have a physical or mental hardship, and are disabled, New York allows you to have someone you designate apply for you. You may also authorize someone who knows your household circumstances to apply for Food Stamp Benefits for you. If you would like to authorize someone, print the person’s name, address and phone number on the signature page (page 5) of your food stamp application.
Telephone Interviews
If you are working or have circumstances that make it hard for you to get to your local social services office for an interview after you have submitted your application, it may be possible to have the application interview done by telephone. If all the adults in your household are age 60 or older, or are disabled and have no earned income, you automatically qualify to have your application and recertification interviews done by phone, if you request it. Some other hardships that might make you eligible for a phone interview include cost or difficulty of traveling to and from the social services office, health problems (even temporary ones), difficulty getting time off from work or difficulty getting child care or dependent care. If you apply, contact your local department of social services office to request a phone interview.
If you qualify for food stamps, you must receive them no later than 30 days from the date the local district received your application.
Food Stamps for Working Families
New York is making it easier for working households to apply for the Food Stamp Program through the Working Families Food Stamp Initiative. You don’t need to have children to take part. New York considers the people you live, eat and buy groceries with as part of your household. Even if you live by yourself you can still participate, as long as you meet the work requirements.
If you work the necessary number of hours or meet the earnings requirements, you may apply for food stamp benefits by mail and be interviewed on the phone, so you don’t need to take time off from work to visit a social services office.
You may qualify to have an application interview by phone, under the Working Families Food Stamp Initiative, if you submit an application and if:
- Any adult member (18 years of age or older) of your household is working 30 hours or more per week or earning $217.50 or more per week; or
- Any two (2) adult members of your household are each working 20 or more hours per week or each earning $145 or more per week.
If you live outside of New York City and qualify for the Working Families Food Stamp Initiative you won’t need to be finger-imaged.
Telephone Recertification for Current Food Stamp Recipients
If you already get food stamp benefits in New York State, as long as you do not also get Temporary Assistance (cash) benefits, you can recertify (renew your benefits) without coming into the social services office. Recertification with a telephone interview is more convenient because you no longer have to travel to the Food Stamp Office for recertification. You will save valuable time needed for employment or other important matters by not reporting in person to your local department of Social Services for your interview.
For more information on any of these methods of application or recertification, contact your local department of social services office or the toll-free hotline: 1-800-342-3009.
Transitional Food Stamp Benefits
If your temporary assistance cash case closes, in most cases, you can still receive food stamps, even if the reason that your case is closing is because you now have too much income to be eligible. In 2001, New York State became the first state in the nation to give Transitional Food Stamp Benefits. This program was designed to help families who used to get cash benefits make the transition to self-sufficiency. For most families leaving cash assistance, food stamps benefits can be continued – often at a higher amount than before – for five months.
Questions?
For further information about Food Stamps, you may call the Office of Temporary and Disability Services toll-free hotline at 1-800-342-3009 and press “1” for Food Stamps or contact your local department of social services.
Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.