The SNAP program is for people and families with low incomes. Households must meet certain requirements and provide information/verification about their income. To learn if you may be eligible for SNAP, please see the information below. Or, to see if you might qualify for the program, there are a few questions you can answer by completing the food support questionnaire (PDF). 3 Ways to ApplyThe SNAP program does require an interview. The interview can be scheduled to be done over the phone if you mail in or drop off your application or it can also be done in person at any of our four offices Monday through Friday from 8:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Once your benefits have been approved you will be issued an electronic benefit card (EBT). The card will be mailed to you. You can access your benefits at any store that accepts EBT cards. The card can only be used for food purchases. It is always good practice to call and find out the balance of your benefits before going to the store.
If you were denied SNAP benefits or if your benefits closed you have the Right to Appeal (PDF). In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Washington County is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability. You have the right to file a complaint if you believe you were treated in a discriminatory way by our agency. Learn more about filing a Complaint of Discrimination
Food stamp eligibility is complicated, and the rules change often. This page is a good starting point, but the best way to find out if you’re eligible for food stamps is to apply for them. If you have a question that we haven’t answered here, let us know.
To figure out if you qualify for food stamps, Minnesota needs to know your:
Anyone you live and buy/make food with counts a member of your household. You may live with people who don’t count as household members, like tenants who are renting a room, or adult children (22+) who buy/make their own food. Children (under 22) always count as household members, even if they buy/make their own food. Elderly (60+) and disabled people count as household members if you buy/make food for them, or you buy/make food together. If they live with you but buy/make food separately, they do not count as household members.
Yes, as long as you aren’t leaving a job or reducing your hours specifically so that you’ll qualify. You may be required to participate in an employment and training program if you aren’t working or work fewer than 30 hours a week. Some exceptions apply. Visit your local office or call the Minnesota SNAP hotline to learn more: 1-800-657-3698.
Yes. If you’re eligible for food stamps, Minnesota won’t disqualify you because of a drug felony. You might have to take drug tests. You might also face a temporary disqualification period. Call your local office or the Minnesota SNAP hotline to learn more: 1-800-657-3698.
Non-citizens who have qualified alien immigration status are eligible for food stamps. Qualified aliens include refugees, victims of trafficking, Cuban and Haitian immigrants, Iraqi and Afghan immigrants with special status, and more.
Yes. You do not need a mailing address or housing to apply for food stamps. If you’re currently living in a shelter that gives you free meals, you can still apply for food stamps.
Once your child is born, your household size will increase. More household members = more benefits. While you are pregnant, you can’t get more food stamps, but you can apply for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits. WIC provides food and resources for pregnant women, new parents, and children up to 5 years old.
Check out this benefit finder tool and find out.
This information was compiled by Providers from publicly available government websites. Please check in with your local office if you have questions.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is formerly known as Food Stamps or Food Support program. It's basically the same program as before, but the name has been changed since Minnesotans don't get food stamps anymore to buy food, but they instead get a debit card. After you apply for SNAP enrollment and after you've been accepted you'll get and EBT card. This stands for Electronic Bank Transfer card and it functions just like any other debit card. Each month you'll get a certain amount of money deposited on your EBT card, so you can use it to purchase food in places which are partnered with SNAP. These are markets and grocery stores. Once you get to the check-out line, you'll need to use your EBT card by swiping it at the cash register and entering your PIN (Personal Identification Number). Make sure you keep your card safe as well as your PIN. You can use your EBT card only to purchase food, plants or seeds in order to grow food. Seniors can also use it at some Meals on Wheels and Congregate Dining sites. Make sure that you know the terms of SNAP enrollment and use of your EBT card as well, since some actions are considered as an illegal use of SNAP benefits and they can lead to a termination of your enrollment. Some of these actions are:
In terms of income qualification, 20% of income is not counted when making comparisons on the various income levels. However this only applies to "earned income" and not applies to unearned income like child support, social security of unemployment income.
Also, many people are interested in how much money they can get with their SNAP enrollment. The amount of money will be calculated and you'll receive a certain amount at the beginning of each month. This amount depends on your income, expenses and the number of people in your household. In general, SNAP enrollment can get you $118 per month, for an average low-income individual. SNAP also offers expedited service for very-low income families. This means that families who are already struggling with food supplies can get SNAP right away. Normally, a review process can take up to 30 days, so this is why in some cases SNAP can be approved right away. You can use expedited SNAP service if: www.hawk-i.org/en_US/costs.html Make sure that you know the terms of SNAP enrollment and use of your EBT card as well, since some actions are considered as an illegal use of SNAP benefits and they can lead to a termination of your enrollment. Some of these actions are:
In order to continuously receive SNAP assistance, you'll need to know that you'll have a certain responsibilities. You'll get a chance to get familiar with these responsibilities by thoroughly reading documents that you'll need to sign the first time you became a SNAP enrollee. The most important responsibilities that you'll have are:
Many low-income families who are eligible for SNAP enrollment, are also automatically eligible for many other state-administered programs which could help with costs of food, shelter, medical or other expenses. Some of these services are:
There are also some other very helpful services as counselling, homemaking, family planning, services for unmarried parents, adoption services and programs for senior citizens. In order to find out more about these additional programs, simply call your local DHS office. You can find out more at: Eligibility RequirementsIn order to get the SNAP benefits, you'll need to fulfill the following requirements:
In case you're a student and you'd like to use SNAP benefits, besides meeting general requirements and eligibility guidelines, you'll need to meet at least one of the following requirements:
You are also eligible for the SNAP enrollment even if you're using other state-funded programs, as long as you fulfill income and asset requirements for both of these programs:
If you need any more information on eligibility requirements, you can use this webpage: In order to apply for the SNAP enrollment, you'll need to fill out a Combined Application Form and turn it in at your local human services agency. There are several ways to obtain and submit a Combined Application form:
The application is about 15 pages long and it is available in over 10 different languages. It will ask you about the members of your household, your income and your assets. Since this is a combined form, you can also apply for any other Minnesota-administered programs. Make sure you take your time and carefully fill out this application, since this can speed up the review process. Besides having a properly filled out application form, you'll also need additional documents which are used as a proof of your identity, income and your assets. These documents are:
The process of approval usually takes the following four steps:
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