Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are distributed electronically through the Ohio Direction Card, which is similar to a debit card. Do I qualify for food assistance benefits? You may qualify for benefits if your household's gross monthly income is at or under 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Food stamps provide access to food for low-income people. Recipients of food stamps (now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by the federal government), typically need to meet both income and asset guidelines in order to qualify. Data for Free and Reduced Price Meal Eligibility Annual Report and Data for School Lunch and Breakfast. The Office of Integrated Student Supports administers the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.
Stimulus Package Update: The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has announced more flexibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and removed some roadblocks that would typically exist within the process of attaining food assistance.
The waiver will help enable children, seniors and participants with disabilities to be able to get food during this global pandemic in an easier way.
The legislation, passed a few weeks ago, will allow SNAP participants to receive two supplemental payments of benefits during this time of quarantine if they do not currently receive the maximum amount of benefits each month.
Under the new waiver, the USDA is giving individual states the option to let parents/guardians acquire the food that they need for their families or children without the need for the children to be present. Typically, the children are required to be present to receive meals from the Child Nutrition Programs.
Since the USDA realized that this may not be feasible for most families during this pandemic, they have teamed up with local and state authorities to ensure program operators are continuing to feed the families in need. More flexibilities include:
- Making meal pickup easier, as per these requirements.
- Removing requirements that meals be served in group settings in order to support social distancing
- Promoting knowledge about how to minimize exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
Food Stamps Program Requirement Information
Eligibility for Food Stamps depends upon a number of factors. To qualify, applicants must meet personal and financial requirements specified by the program. Income guidelines allow the state to identify and offer benefits to households in need.
Eligibility for food stamps is reserved for individuals and families who are struggling to purchase nutritious food.
Learning who is eligible for benefits is the first step in the application process for food stamps.
Who meets the requirements for benefits?
Typically, to meet eligibility for food stamps, you must be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident who has lived in the country for at least five years.
However, you may qualify even though you are a non-citizen, if you are a refugee or asylee who has been admitted to the country for humanitarian reasons.
Children younger than 18 years of age can be eligible for benefits if they were admitted into the country legally, even if their parents or guardians do not meet the immigration requirements.
You may also be eligible for benefits if you are currently getting assistance because you have a disability, regardless of the date you entered the country. However, you are not eligible if you are a tourist or an undocumented individual.
To apply for food stamps , you must be a resident of the state where you submit the application.
Learn About Income Guidelines for Residents
Download Free Ohio Food Stamp Program Eligibility Requirements
Your eligibility for food stamps will also depend on your household income. To qualify, all households except those with inhabitants who are disabled or 60 years of age and older, are required to have gross and net income eligibility tests.
To meet eligibility, the maximum gross income (all earnings from any source) must be lower than the threshold. Income guidelines are relative to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), which considers the number of household members.
Ohio Food Stamp Eligibility Tool
If your household surpasses the gross income determination test, then the net income is calculated by deducting certain allowances such as dependent care and child support and medical expenses in some cases.
According to the income guidelines , your household may also be subject to a resource limit. A resource is defined as an item that you could draw upon or sell to help you financially.
Your household will also have to meet a resource limit. If it contains a member who is disabled or at least 60 years old, the limit is $3,500. If not, the resource limit is $2,250.
Income guidelines stipulate three types of resources, which may affect eligibility and the amount of benefits received.
These include:
- Liquid resources, or all readily available funds, such as cash, money in savings and checking accounts, savings certificates or bonds, stock, trust deeds and funds in retirement accounts.
- Non-liquid resources like personal property, land, buildings and recreational properties.
- Excluded resources that are not in the above categories.
Learn About Work Requirements
There are additional eligibility requirements if food assistance is the only benefit you are receiving. To qualify, you must meet certain work requirements from your state.
For example, to be eligible for food stamps, you may need to participate in certain employment and training activities such as job hunting, performing community service or participating in training programs.
If the state requires you to work, your local county welfare office will explain when and how to participate in mandatory activities after applying to the food stamp program.
Learn How to Report Changes to Households
As a qualified benefits recipient, you must report any changes in your household. Changes that may affect your eligibility for benefits include loss or additions to the number of household members, changes of address, changes in shelter costs, if additional resources become available, and changes in child support payments to a non-household member.
If this applies to your household, then you must submit a report to your local welfare office by the deadline established in your state.
Helpful Resources:
- Learn about different SNAP changes/updates per state here.