Are You Eligible for Food Stamps?
With milk prices still below break-even for many dairy farms, some farm families are beginning to wonder if they are eligible for food stamps.
They just might be. A family of four might be eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits of up $642 per month if their gross monthly income is less than $2,270 ($27,240 of annual gross income). But the family must also have less than $2,250 in “countable resources” including cash and money in a bank account. Other asset restrictions also apply and eligibility requirements vary somewhat by state.
Once a family applies for SNAP benefits, the applicant must go through an eligibility interview and submit verification of the information provided. That process can take up to 30 days, but applicants may be eligible for expedited or emergency SNAP funding within 7 days.
SNAP benefits are not indefinite. According to USDA’s website, “If you are found eligible, you will receive a notice that tells you how long you will receive SNAP benefits for; this is called your certification period. Before your certification period ends, you will receive another notice that says you must recertify to continue receiving benefits. Your local SNAP office will provide you with information about how to recertify.”
For more information on SNAP, click here.
