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Would you like to know if you are eligible for food stamps or SNAP assistance? Read this review of the pre-screening tool provided by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), and learn how to find out if you qualify for help.
About SNAP:
While some people will still refer to state food assistance programs as ‘Food Stamps’, the actual name for the benefits is now called SNAP. This stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Per the website at www.fns.usda.gov/snap/, more than 46 million people receive food stamps, or SNAP each month to help provide healthy food for their families. Ultimately, tax payers support or pay for these programs that help pay the costs of eligible food items for needy and qualified families. The application process and monthly awarded benefits are facilitated by local SNAP offices.
SNAP food stamps and assistance programs have been helping eligible and qualified families get food for their tables for more than 40 years. In general, the entitlement program is available for qualified low income individuals and families.
How to Find Out if you are Eligible for Food Stamps:
In order to help you determine if you and your family may be eligible and qualified for a food assistance program, the FNS has setup a website with a pre-screening eligibility tool. This can be accessed at www.snap-step1.usda.gov/fns/. By working through the questions provided by the tool, you may be able to find out if you would qualify for food stamps assistance, if you were to apply. Keep in mind, the FNS’s eligibility tool is not the application for food stamps. You would need to contact your local SNAP office to get an application to officially apply for SNAP. The questions will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes of your time to complete.
Some of the information you will need for the SNAP pre-screening questions:
- Your current earnings
- Amount of utility bills
- Rent or mortgage amount
- Day care expenses
- Child support expense
- Child support receipts
- VA payments
- Social Security payments
Resources:
- Pre-screening tool: www.snap-step1.usda.gov/fns/
- FNS Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP: www.fns.usda.gov/snap/
