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hungry......:'(

I am a single mom who is disabled and I barely have enough to pay my bills every month. My son is 19 , and his birthday was yesterday the 22nd. We have no money for Christmas or even food right now. I get food stamps and we have run out of food as we always do around this time of the month. I have 45 dollars in my purse and am short 200 for January rent. My wallet was stolen last month and I had 200 dollars in it. My son has been walking everywhere applying for a job, but has not had a call back. I struggle with gas money. If anyone has a heart and can just give my child something for Christmas I would be so grateful! It is a horrible feeling when you have to watch your only child sad and feel unimportant this time of year when everyone else is getting presents. My son has stepped up this past year and sold his x-box and I sold my laptop just to pay bills. Please someone help us. Teresa 504-327-0879!

 in response to reecee1...   no my heting is electric baseboard heat i use hotwater heater with propane gas to shower with and cook with i get heating assistance for my heat which is electric not hotwater and cooking so there what goes?

 in response to Inspiration...   yes there is but it goes for my heating not my propane hot water and cooking thank you though

There should be a heating assistance program available in your area. Where do you live and I'll help you locate where to go for help?

NO ONE LIKES TO ASK FOR CHARITY I CALL IT SURVIVAL I NEED 300.00 TO GET PROPANE GAS TO HEAT HOT WATER AND COOK WITH I AM 50 YEARS OF AGE DISABLED HOMEBOUND AND CAN NOT WALK I ALSO LIVE BELOW POVERTY LEVEL OF 674.00 A MONTH PLEASE HELP DESPERATE????

http://www.stephen-knapp.com/Hare_Krishna_temples_in_the_usa_and_canada_.htm

locations for Hare Krishna temples

I am new to this, I have no one to turn to, Its hard for me to ask for help, but I have 2 small children who depend on me. It breaks my heart when I dont have enough food for them. Words of encouragement really needed.

I do not like to ask for assistance but sometimes you have to do what you need to do. If anyone would please take a second to review my post I would greatly appreciate it. I am in dire need for food, utility assistance and diapers. My children have ate the last of he meat, I have lost 15 pounds and looking for another job. Anything tht can be afforded would be appreciated. I have tried everything. I have nothing else to pawn, no more change or cans to recycle and no more family to help out. I know it's straight forward but that's the situation. I know times are hard and if you can'r afford it, I still want to say thank you for taking the time to read this.

CLICK HERE

For website information:

Many people are being hit hard by today's ecomonic times and here is a place that is trying to help those who are less fortunate than others.And they need help in order to do so please read on so more can be helped and how you can help others. 

If you live in San Fernado Valley learn how you can donate food, clothing and household items. 

 Established in 1998, the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission began as the Rescue S.O.S. (Survival Outreach Services) meals outreach program to the Valley’s homeless. In 2002, the mission launched the Family Shelter program in a collaborative effort with San Fernando Valley area churches in response to the critical unmet need for year round emergency shelter.

While there are four strong rescue missions serving downtown Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission is based in the San Fernando Valley, providing daily services the Valley's homeless population.

CLICK HERE

For website.

Open Pantry's Emergency Food Pantry (EFP) has been providing non-perishable groceries for people in need since 1975.  Both individuals and families in the Springfield area come to the EFP on an emergency basis.  In 2009, approximately 12,582 intake visits were performed which in turn provided non-perishable food/groceries to almost 27,000 people, half of whom were children.

Families comprise 54% of the people served and nearly 50% of all the food distributed is for children.  Recipients may use this service up to six times a year.  This number was increased from four to help meet the increasing needs of our community.  Senior receipients may access the service 12 times a year.

CLICK HERE

See above to access the whole website and information contained within...

 Food Stamp Program | Alulike Program | Foodbanks
Meals on Wheels | Child and Adult Care Food Program
Child Nutrition & WIC Reauthorization Act | Misc. Programs by Island

Nutrition Programs

Food Stamp Program

This program is administered by the Department of Human Services. You can visit their website at http://oahu-ces.hawaii.edu/food_stamps/progfacts.htm for a description of this program, eligibility requirements, information on its operations and phone contacts. Visit http://www.state.hi.us/dhs/Financial%20Assistance.html for a listing of user rights and responsibilities.

    Things to bring:

        * U.S. citizens and some aliens admitted for permanent residency may qualify.
        * Proof that household has no more than $2000 in countable resources.
        * Proof that household has no more than $3000 in countable resources if at least one person in household is age 60 or older.
        * Documents regarding household members’ income.
        * All household members must provide a Social Security number or apply for one.

          The USDA has translated Food Stamp informational brochures, eligibility fact sheets, immigrant eligibility information, and a list of documents needed to apply for Food Stamps into other languages. Currently, the materials are available in Arabic and French, but soon will also be available in Albanian, Simplified Chinese, Croatian, Haitian Creole, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, and Thai. These materials should be useful for helping immigrants understand the new food stamp restoration rules. To download the material, go to http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/translations.htm

    For information on eligibility limits for Hawaii (click here)

Oahu DHS Offices     Locations     Phones
Central Honolulu Applications     333 North King St     586-8107
East Honolulu Applications     333 North King St.     586-8047
Ewa Unit     601 Kamokila Bl. # 106     692-7300
Kailua Unit     45-513 Luluku Rd.     233-5325
Kalihi Unit     420 Waiakamilo Rd. #101     832-5520
Kaneohe Unit     45-513 Luluku Rd.     233-5350
Kapalama Unit     420 Waiakamilo Rd. #101     832-5538
Kinau Unit     420 Waiakamilo Rd. #101     832-4660
Kuakini Unit     420 Waiakamilo Rd. #117C     832-3800
Leeward Applications & Assist Unit     86-088 Farrington Hwy. #106     697-7147
Makiki Unit     677 Queen, #400B     587-5276
Nanakuli Unit     601 Kamokila Blvd. #117     692-7775
Nuuanu Unit     1485 Linapuni St. Suite 124     832-5627
Palama Unit     420 Waiakamilo Rd. #101     832-5558
Pawaa Unit     677 Queen, #400B     587-5290
Punawai Unit     677 Queen, #400B     587-5283
Wahiawa Unit     929 Center     622-6476
Waianae Unit     86-088 Farrington Hwy. #101     697-7177
Waikele Unit     94-275 Mokuola #303     675-0040
Waipahu Applications Unit     601 Kamokila Blvd. #468     692-7171
Waipahu Unit     601 Kamokila Blvd. #106     692-7310
West Honolulu Applications Unit     420 Waiakamilo Rd. #101     832-5500
West Oahu Unit     94-275 Mokuola, #303A     675-0050
Windward Applications Unit     45-260 Waikalua Rd.     233-3621
Windward Unit     46-005 Kawa, #307     233-3655
Employment & Training Unit 1     677 Queen, #400A     587-5260
Employment & Training Unit 2     98-030 Hekaha, #31     483-7172
Kauai DHS Office     Location     Phone
Kauai Office     Benefit Employment & Support Services Division/
Information     643-1643

Maui, Molokai, Lanai Offices
    

Location
    

Phone
Benefit Employment & support Services Division/Information     Maui     643-1643
Island of Hawaii Offices     Location     Phone
Benefit Employment & Support Services Division/Information     Hilo      643-1643
Food Stamp, Employment & Training Unit     111 East Puainako, #A101     959-0669
Food Stamp, Employment & Training Unit     75-5591 Palani Rd., #2004     327-4755

Alulike program

This program is under the Alulike organization and referred to as “Ke Ola Pono No Na Kupuna” (Good health and living for the Elderly – Native Hawaiian Elderly Services Project) which provides daily congregate meals or limited home delivered meal services on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu. For hours of operation, eligibility requirements, locations, services and costs, click on http://www.alulike.org/.

Foodbanks

Hawaii Foodbank, Inc.
2611-A Kilihau Street
Honolulu, HI 96819
Phone: (808) 836-3600 or 275-2000
Fax: (808) 836-2272
Email: foodbank@hawaiifoodbank.org
(Ask for a food pantry in your area)

Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP)
1120 Maunakea St., #280
Honolulu 96817
521-4531
(Federal surplus food distribution)

Kauai Food Bank
3285 Waapa Road
246-3809; Fax: 246-4737

Maui Food Bank
P.O. Box 1693 Kahalui 96732
877-4357: Fax 877-0925
Warehouse Receiving: 877-3194

Hawaii Island Food Bank - Hilo
140B Holomua St. Hilo, Hi. 96720
Ph. # 935-3050; Fax # 935-3794

Hawaii Island Food Bank - Kona
Kailua-Kona
Ph # 322-1418; Fax # 322-3812

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels is a non-profit organization supported by private donations and limited subsidies. On Oahu they offer congregate group dining and home delivered meals. Eligibility requirements:

    * Household members 60 years of age or over.
    * Individuals homebound, feeble, physically handicapped or otherwise disabled to the extent these individuals are unable to adequately prepare meals; and
    * Spouses of the above individuals.
    * Individuals eligible for meals on wheels may use all or any part of the coupons issued to them to purchase meals from a nonprofit meal delivery service authorized by FNS.

      --Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 17 Department of Human Services, Subtitle 6 - Family & Adult Services Division, Chapter 610 Food Stamp Program Adiminstration.

DHS administrative rules: http://www.state.hi.us/dhs/17-610.PDF. To contact the Meals on Wheels program; link on the respective websites:

    * Hawaii Meals on Wheels
    * Lanakila Meals on Wheels

Oct. 15, 2004: Hawaii Meals on Wheels will be opening a new delivery route in the Ewa to Kapolei. Applications are currently being accepted from potential clients. The volunteers are ready to deliver but additional clients are necessary to make the routes viable.

General information about their home-delivered meals program:

    * Meals are delivered HOT, ready to eat. These are LUNCH meals only, delivered between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
    * There is NO AGE RESTRICTION to receive meals. Clients must be frail elders or individuals with disabilities who are HOMEBOUND, unable to cook/shop for themselves and with limited social support to assist with cooking/shopping.
    * Some SPECIAL DIET restrictions can be accommodated.
    * Clients are asked to contribute toward the cost of their meals at whatever rate they can AFFORD. No one is turned away due to inability to pay for meals but everyone is asked to contribute something.
    * Meals are delivered Monday through Friday, including ALL weekday holidays.

      If you have any questions, call office at 988-6747.

      Aloha,
      Allicyn Hikida Tasaka
      Executive Director
      Hawaii Meals on Wheels
      PH: 808-988-6747
      FAX: 808-988-5719
      EMAIL: hmowed@hawaii.rr.com

Oahu Group Dining Sites:

    * Aina Haina 373-2722
    * D.E. Thompson Village (Ewa) 681-4960
    * Hale Mohalu (Pearl City) 456-0368
    * Hale O Hauoli (Pearl City) 352-0288
    * Hale Po’ai (Palama) 832-3445
    * Hauula Satellite City Hall 386-5995
    * Kahuluu Key Project 239-5777
    * Kahuku Village 386-5995
    * Kalanihuia (Palama) 352-0284
    * Kamalu/Ho’olulu (Waipahu) 675-0099
    * Kaneohe Playground 233-7330
    * Kapahulu Senior Center 737-1748
    * Kapalama Health Maintenance 832-3445
    * Kupuna Home O/Waialua 352-0297
    * Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center 847-1322
    * Lani Huli (Kailua) 263-2341
    * Makalapa Manor 487-7114
    * Manoa Gardens 988-6330
    * McCully Senior Citizens Club 839-9434
    * Mililani Rec. Center #3 623-7110
    * Moiliili Community Center 955-1555
    * Paki Community Park 733-7368
    * Palama Settlement 845-3945
    * Palolo Recreation Center 352-0283
    * Paoakalani (Waikiki) 352-0287
    * Pauahi (Chinatown) 585-6446
    * Pohulani (Kakaako/Downtown) 586-5339
    * Pumehana (Makiki) 585-6261
    * Punchbowl Homes 352-0289
    * Susannah Wesley Center (Kalihi) 845-1881
    * Wahiawa Recreation Center 352-0293
    * Waianae District Park 696-5039
    * Waimanalo 259-8166
    * West Loch Village (Ewa) 681-0562

Hawaii

    * County: Elderly Meals on Wheels
      961-8726
    * County Nutrition Program
      34 Rainbow Drive; 961-8726

Maui

    * Meals on Wheels
      270-7321
    * Nutrition/Lunch Sites
      270-7306

Kauai

    * Kauai Economic Opportunity, Inc.
      245-4077

Child and Adult Care Food Program

This entitlement program reimburses homeless shelters, domesic violence shelters, runaway shelters and some traditional housing for the meals being fed to youths under age 18. For further details of this program visit: CACFP website

Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-265)

The Act provides for migrant, homeless and runaway children & youth to get free school breakfast and lunch. It also confers automatic eligibility for free school meals to runaway children and youth served through grant progams and migrant children through section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Contact your DOE school on your island.

Miscellaneous Smaller Programs by Islands

Oahu

KEY Project - Ecumenical Youth Project

KEY Project networks with the Hawaii Foodbank to provide several food items in Heeia to Kaawa communities for whom times are tight. Food distribution is at their facility every Wednesday. Foodbank service is available to residents from north Heeia to Kaaawa. Location: 47-200 Waihee Road, Kaneohe, HI 96744. Phone: 239-5777.

Maui

Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc..................................249-2970

FEMA - emergency assistance to families who are not receiving food stamps.
TEFAP - surplus food distribution to people earning below the 150% poverty guideline.
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CLICK HERE

Click the link above to access the following information and get food by meeting the  requirements for the nutrition assistance program 

 Nutrition Assistance Program (NA)
(Formerly Food Stamps)

Research has shown that even moderate under-nutrition, the type seen most frequently in the United States, can have lasting effects on the brain development of children. According to the Center on Hunger and Poverty, inadequate nutrition is a major cause of impaired cognitive development and is associated with increased educational failure among impoverished children. Poor nutrition also has been linked to serious health problems in adults, particularly the elderly.

Through the DES Nutrition Assistance Program (Arizona's title for the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or 'SNAP'), thousands of Arizonans are able to provide adequate nutrition for their families. These services, combined with the support provided by the Women, Infant and Children program at the Department of Health Services and the Free or Reduced Lunch program through the Department of Education, also help to minimize the risk that Arizona’s children will experience developmental delays as a result of poor nutrition.

NA Benefits increased effective April 1, 2009. For more information, please see our poster (199 KB PDF) or Spanish version (132 KB PDF).

Individuals and families who do not qualify for these programs or who need one-time assistance with food may receive help through a statewide network of food banks. The  Coordinated Hunger Relief Program provides some financial support to Arizona’s food banks.

Arizona’s Nutrition Assistance Program (NA) application (753 KB DOC) also serves as an application for cash assistance and AHCCCS medical insurance. In this way, families provide information only once to determine if they are eligible for these services. Adults in families who qualify for cash assistance are also referred to the DES employment and training program to get help with preparing for or finding a job.  
  Eligibility
The U.S. Department of Agriculture establishes the eligibility for the NA program.  Eligibility for benefits is based on resources, income and other requirements such as residence, citizenship or eligible non-citizen status, and cooperation with the Department of Economic Security employment and training program.  In addition, household members must provide or apply for a Social Security Number.
 
Applying For Services

Individuals or families may apply for Nutrition Assistance Program at local offices throughout the state. Listing of offices by city and ZIP codes.   

To apply for Nutrition Assistance benefits, clients must have the following information available:

    * Social Security numbers for everyone, or proof they applied for a Social Security number.
    * Alien registration cards if there are non U. S. citizens in the household.
    * Name, address and daytime phone number of a landlord or neighbor, if available.
    * A statement verifying your address and the names of everyone living with you. The statement must be made by a non-relative who doesn’t live with you and must be signed, dated and include the non-relative address and telephone number.
    * Proof of all money your household received from any source last month and this month.
    * Registration/titles for all vehicles.
    * Bank or credit union statement (savings or checking) for the most recent month.
    * Proof of Savings Bonds, securities, retirement plans and life insurance.
    * Copies of rent/mortgage and utility bills (electric, water, gas, etc.) for the most recent month.
    * Proof of childcare expenses for the most recent month.
    * Proof of recurring medical expenses for anyone in the household age 60 and older, blind, or disabled.

Apply for benefits on-line at www.HealthEArizona.org or complete the Application for Benefits (FA-001) form (752 KB DOC) and return it to the local office that serves your ZIP Code. Applications may be obtained at any Family Assistance Administration (FAA) local office or on the DES Digital Library. To locate the FAA office closest to your residence go to the FAA Office Locator.
    
Fees

There is no fee required to apply for Nutrition Assistance.
 
  Myth: Nutrition Assistance is welfare.     Myth: Only unemployed people can get Nutrition Assistance benefits.
Fact: The Nutrition Assistance program is designed to help low-income people supplement their diets with more nutritious foods.     Fact: Most people who work at low-wage jobs can get Nutrition Assistance benefits; in fact, 52% of the more than 220,000 families receiving Nutrition Assistance in December 2006 were working.
Myth: Nutrition Assistance benefits are not worth applying for since you only get a small amount of money.     Myth: People use Nutrition Assistance benefits to buy cigarettes or alcohol.
Fact: The amount of Nutrition Assistance benefits depends on household size, income and certain expenses.  A mother with two children who works fulltime at $7.00 per hour could receive $180 in Nutrition Assistance benefits per month.     Fact: Nutrition Assistance benefits may only be used to purchase food that is going to be prepared. They cannot be used to buy cigarettes, alcohol, or other non-food items, such as clothing and toiletries.
 
More Information Contact
Information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 602-542-9935 in the Phoenix area or 1-800-352-8401 outside the Phoenix area.  

CLICK HERE

See link above and click announcements to learn where you can get food and other information.

 Twelve Baskets is a subsidiary of the Bay Area Food Bank. The Twelve Baskets warehouse is located in Gulfport, Mississippi.  In 2008, they distributed over 1.25 million pounds of food.  Over 87 agencies in Mississippi's 8 southern counties worked with Twelve Baskets during the year.

 

http://www.sharedharvest.org/get-help/?county=miami

Click on the link to find the nearest food pantry if need food or shelter. 

If you need groceries to take home, a place to eat a meal or find a bed, below is a listing of our member organizations. Some have restrictions on the area they serve so to save time and gas, please call ahead.

Food Pantries will, at least, require a picture identification, like a Drivers License or State ID card and proof of residency, like a current utility or phone bill, rent receipt, etc. in order to receive food. Please call ahead to determine if the pantry you will visit requires any other documents.

To eat at a Soup Kitchen, no documents are required.

To stay at a Shelter, please call ahead to find out if there is room. 

 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/FSP/faqs.htm

Click the link to learn more about supplemental nutrition assistance program and the qualifications for it.

 1.     What is SNAP for?
   2.    Who is SNAP for?
   3.    Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to receive SNAP benefits?
   4.    How do I obtain SNAP benefits?
   5.    Can you send me an application form?
   6.    Can I apply on line?
   7.    How can I find out if I might be eligible for SNAP benefits?
   8.    How is each household's SNAP allotment determined?
   9.    What is the average benefit from SNAP?
   10.  What foods are eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits?
   11.  What measures are taken to prevent SNAP fraud?
   12.  What do I do if my EBT card is lost or stolen?
   13.  Can I use my EBT card in another State?
   14.  When will my SNAP benefits be available on my EBT card?
   15.  Can I use EBT for online SNAP purchases?
   16.  Can I have food delivered to my home?
   17.  Can I check the balance of my EBT account online?
   18.  I have paper coupons. Can I still use them to buy food?
   19.  Do I have to use all my SNAP benefits up in the month that I receive them,
          or will they be carried over into the next month?
   20.  What keeps unqualified people from getting SNAP benefits?
   21.  When did the program begin?
   22.  How do I report someone I think is violating SNAP rules?
   23.  What are some characteristics of SNAP households?
   24.  Don’t some territories, such as Puerto Rico, use a different version of SNAP?
   25.  How many people get SNAP benefits, and at what cost?
   26.  Need more information?
   27.  Can't find the answer?

1. What is SNAP for?

SNAP helps put food on the table for some 31 million people per month in FY 2009. It provides low-income households with electronic benefits they can use like cash at most grocery stores. SNAP is the cornerstone of the Federal food assistance programs, and provides crucial support to needy households and to those making the transition from welfare to work.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture administers SNAP at the Federal level through its Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). State agencies administer the program at State and local levels, including determination of eligibility and allotments, and distribution of benefits.
2. Who is SNAP for?

Households must meet eligibility requirements and provide information – and verification -- about their household circumstances. U.S. citizens and some aliens who are admitted for permanent residency may qualify. The welfare reform act of 1996 ended eligibility for many legal immigrants, though Congress later restored benefits to many children and elderly immigrants, as well as some specific groups. The welfare reform act also placed time limits on benefits for unemployed, able-bodied, childless adults.

Local SNAP offices can provide information about eligibility, and USDA operates a toll-free number (800-221-5689) for people to receive information about SNAP. Most states also have a toll free information/hotline number.

To participate in SNAP:

    *

      Households may have no more than $2,000 in countable resources, such as a bank account ($3,000 if at least one person in the household is age 60 or older, or is disabled). Certain resources are not counted, such as a home and lot. Special rules are used to determine the resource value of vehicles owned by household members.
    *

      The gross monthly income of most households must be 130 percent or less of the Federal poverty guidelines ($2,389 per month for a family of four in most places, effective Oct. 1, 2009 through Sept. 30, 2010). Gross income includes all cash payments to the household, with a few exceptions specified in the law or the program regulations.
    *

      Net monthly income must be 100 percent or less of Federal poverty guidelines ($1,838 per month for a household of four in most places, effective Oct. 1, 2009 through Sept. 30, 2010). Net income is figured by adding all of a household's gross income, and then taking a number of approved deductions for child care, some shelter costs and other expenses. Households with an elderly or disabled member are subject only to the net income test.
    *

      Most able-bodied adult applicants must meet certain work requirements.
    *

      All household members must provide a Social Security number or apply for one.

Federal poverty guidelines are established by the Office of Management and Budget, and are updated annually by the Department of Health and Human Services.
3. Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to receive SNAP benefits?

Certain non-citizens, such as those admitted for humanitarian reasons, those admitted for permanent residence, many children, elderly immigrants and individuals who have been working in the United States for certain periods of time, are eligible for SNAP. Eligible household members can get SNAP benefits even if there are other members of the household who are not eligible.
4. How do I obtain SNAP benefits?

Go to the local SNAP office and fill out an application. You have the right to submit the application the same day. You can also call the office and ask them to send you an application, fill it in and send it in by mail, or in some cases, by fax. The local office will give you an appointment for an interview. One thing to keep in mind is that SNAP prorates the first month's benefits from the day the local office gets your application, so it's to your advantage to get the application to the office quickly, even if you haven't had time to fill it out completely. Just give the local office your name, address and signature, if you can't complete the form immediately.
5. Can you send me an application form?

No. We're sorry, but FNS headquarters cannot send application forms. The States are responsible for the development of their own application forms. We have a national map of state SNAP applications and local offices, as well as a State Applications page with links to each state's SNAP application. You can download an application form, or visit the State Applications and ask for one. If you download an application, you can print it out, fill it in at home and mail or take it to the local office. Some States allow you to fax the form to the local office.
6. Can I apply on line?

Currently, there are just a few States with working systems that allow applicants to apply for SNAP benefits by computer. To check to see if your State is one of them, go to To Apply under Applicants/Recipients.
7. How can I find out if I might be eligible for SNAP benefits?

Our pre-screening tool will tell you whether you might be eligible for SNAP benefits, and how much you might be eligible to receive, so you can see whether it would be worth your while to go to the local SNAP office and apply.
8. How is each household's SNAP allotment determined?

Eligible households are issued a monthly allotment of SNAP benefits based on the Thrifty Food Plan, a low-cost model diet plan. The TFP is based on National Academy of Sciences’ Recommended Dietary Allowances, and on food choices of low-income households.

An individual household's SNAP allotment is equal to the maximum allotment for that household's size, less 30 percent of the household's net income. Households with no countable income receive the maximum allotment ($668 per month in Fiscal Year 2010 for a household of four people). Allotment levels are higher for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, reflecting higher food prices in those areas.
9. What is the average benefit from SNAP?

The average monthly benefit was about $101 per person and about $227 per household in FY 2008.
10. What foods are eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits?

Households CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:
   Foods for the household to eat, such as:
      -- breads and cereals
-- fruits and vegetables
-- meats, fish and poultry; and
-- dairy products
   Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:
   Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
   Any nonfood items, such as:
      -- pet foods;
-- soaps, paper products; and
-- household supplies.
   Vitamins and medicines.
   Food that will be eaten in the store.
   Hot foods

Listing of Eligible Food Items

Please note that the posted listed does not cover all products currently on the market. As new designations are requested and made, FNS will update the posted list.
  How FNS Determines Food Eligibility
  Eligible Food Items List  (pdf)

In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals. SNAP benefits cannot be exchanged for cash.
11. What measures are taken to prevent SNAP fraud?

USDA is committed to integrity in all of its nutrition assistance programs, and has put special emphasis on SNAP because of its size and importance. However, in a program as large as the SNAP, it may be inevitable that some people will try to cheat the system.

The Department has already taken a number of steps to make it easier to catch and punish people who misuse SNAP benefits. The welfare reform act of 1996 included several provisions, originally proposed by USDA, to more closely scrutinize food retailers who apply for SNAP authorization, and to more closely monitor retailers once they are participating in the program. Retailers who violate program rules can face heavy fines, removal from the program, or jail. Individual SNAP recipients who sell their benefits can also be removed from the program.

One of the most promising developments in the fight against SNAP fraud has been the use of electronic benefit transfer--EBT--to issue SNAP benefits. EBT uses a plastic card similar to a bank debit card to transfer funds from a SNAP benefits account to a retailer's account. With an EBT card, SNAP customers pay for groceries without any paper coupons changing hands. EBT eliminates paper coupons and creates an electronic record for each transaction that makes fraud easier to detect.

All States have now adopted EBT for SNAP issuance, and in some cases for other programs such as USDA's Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, the Federal block-grant program operated by the Department of Health and Human Services to provide cash assistance to needy families.
12. What do I do if my EBT card is lost or stolen?

If your EBT card is lost or stolen, you should report it IMMEDIATELY by calling your State’s toll-free customer service number. A new card will be reissued to you within 2-5 days.
13. Can I use my electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card in another state?

EBT cards can be used in all States including the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

EBT cards cannot be used in Puerto Rico because Puerto Rico is operating under a block grant instead of the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program.
14. When will my SNAP benefits be available on my EBT card?

If you have just been certified to receive SNAP benefits, your benefits should be in your EBT account within 30 days from the date you filed your application. If you qualified for expedited benefits because your income was very low, your benefits should be in the account within 7 days from the date you filed the application. You will need to contact your caseworker to find out the exact day your benefits will be available.

Once you are certified and have received your first allotment, SNAP benefits will be made available to you on a monthly basis. You can learn when your monthly SNAP benefits become available at SNAP Monthly Benefit Issuance Schedule. Your state may also provide this information through its toll-free customer service number.
15. Can I use EBT for online SNAP purchases?

No. There are technical reasons why SNAP EBT cards cannot be accepted online at this time. EBT cards work like debit cards and the Personal Identification number (PIN) is the equivalent of an electronic signature; it guarantees that the person using the card is authorized to use it. Therefore, the PIN must be kept secret. When the PIN is entered online as part of a debit transaction, it is possible for others to read the PIN and use it to steal benefits. For this reason, online services are not currently willing to accept PIN-based transactions. The Internet is always evolving. In the future, there may be sufficient safeguards to allow secure PIN entry online, but that's not true today.
16. Can I have food delivered to my home?

Some stores have delivery capabilities. SNAP clients will need to contact the individual store to see if they will deliver and whether they have a means for collecting SNAP EBT benefits when the delivery is made. Stores may use a manual voucher system. A manual voucher can be completed and approved at the store, and then signed by the SNAP client when the food is delivered. Some retailers may also have wireless terminals which they can bring with them to the client's home delivery site.
17. Can I check the balance of my EBT SNAP account online?

At this time, the following States have online access to individual EBT account information, such as balance and transaction history information. You will need your EBT card number and PIN to access your account information online.
18. I have paper coupons. Can I still use them to buy food?

No, paper coupons may no longer be redeemed at stores after June 17, 2009. You can only use your EBT card to buy eligible food at stores authorized by the Food and Nutrition Service.
19. Do I have to use all my SNAP benefits up in the month that I receive them, or will they be carried over into the next month?

Any benefits that you have remaining in your SNAP EBT account at the end of the month WILL be carried over into the next month. However, if you have not used your EBT card at all for one year, the State will permanently remove your SNAP benefits from your EBT account.
20. What keeps unqualified people from getting SNAP benefits?

As part of the commitment to program integrity, USDA works closely with the States to ensure that they issue their benefits correctly. State workers carefully evaluate each application to determine eligibility and the appropriate level of benefits. USDA monitors the accuracy of eligibility and benefit determinations. States that fail to meet standards for issuing their SNAP benefits correctly can be sanctioned by USDA, and those that exceed the standard for payment accuracy can be eligible for additional funding support. People who receive SNAP benefits in error must repay any benefits for which they did not qualify.
21. When did the program begin?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program) traces its earliest origins back to the Food Stamp Plan, which began in 1939 to help needy families in the Depression era. The modern program began as a pilot project in 1961 and was authorized as a permanent program in 1964. Expansion of the program occurred most dramatically after 1974, when Congress required all States to offer food stamps to low-income households. The Food Stamp Act of 1977 made significant changes in program regulations, tightening eligibility requirements and administration, and removing the requirement that food stamps be purchased by participants.

22. How do I report someone I think is violating SNAP rules?

Although SNAP is a Federal assistance program, it is the States that administer it, including the investigation and prosecution of violations of the SNAP rules. Most States maintain a fraud hotline number for the public to call to report suspected violations. The following link provides the number to call for your State to report your information. http://www.fns.usda.gov/contact_info/hotlines.htm

23. What are some characteristics of SNAP households?

Based on a study of data gathered in Fiscal Year 2006:

    *

      49 percent of all participants are children (18 or younger), and 61 percent of them live in single-parent households.
    *

      52 percent of SNAP households include children.
    *

      9 percent of all participants are elderly (age 60 or over).
    *

      76 percent of all benefits go to households with children, 16 percent go to households with disabled persons, and 9 percent go to households with elderly persons.
    *

      33 percent of households with children were headed by a single parent, the overwhelming majority of which were headed by women.
    *

      The average household size is 2.3 persons.
    *

      The average gross monthly income per SNAP household is $673.
    *

      43 percent of participants are white; 33 percent are African-American, non-Hispanic; 19 percent are Hispanic; 2 percent are Asian, 2 percent are Native American, and less than 1 percent are of unknown race or ethnicity.

24. Don’t some territories, such as Puerto Rico, use a different version of SNAP?

In Puerto Rico, the Food Stamp Program was replaced in 1982 by a block grant program, called the Nutrition Assistance Program. The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands and American Samoa in the Pacific also operate under block grants. The territories now provide cash or coupons to participants, rather than food stamps or food distribution. The grant can also be used for administrative expenses related to food production and distribution.

The cost for the block grant program in Puerto Rico is $1.739 billion for FY 2008. For the Northern Marianas and American Samoa the block grant programs in FY 2008 cost $15.9 million.
25.  How many people get SNAP benefits, and at what cost?

In 2008, SNAP served 28.4 million people a month at an annual cost of $34.6 billion. In February 2009, SNAP served 32.6 million people, an all-time record.  SNAP participation fluctuates with the economy and with the pattern of poverty in America. As the number of persons in poverty rose, SNAP participation grows. When poverty falls, so does reliance on SNAP. Participation for the latest available month can be found on Program Data.

Below shows how participation and benefit costs have changed in 5-year intervals over the history of the program:

    *

      In 2005, it served 25.7 million people a month and cost $28.6 billion
    *

      In 2000, it served 17.2 million people a month and cost $17.1 billion
    *

      In 1995, it served 26.6 million people a month and cost $24.6 billion
    *

      In 1990, it served 20.1 million people a month and cost $15.5 billion
    *

      in 1985, it served 19.9 million people a month and cost $11.7 billion
    *

      In 1980, it served 21.1 million people a month and cost $9.2 billion
    *

      In 1975, it served 17.1 million people a month and cost $4.6 billion
    *

      In 1970, it served 4.3 million people a month and cost $577 million.

The following chart lists the current gross and net income eligibility standards for the continental United States, Guam and the Virgin Islands. Eligibility levels are slightly higher for Alaska and Hawaii.

(Oct. 1, 2009 through Sept. 30, 2010)

Household size
    

Gross monthly income
(130 percent of poverty)
    

Net monthly income
(100 percent of poverty)

1
    $1,174     $ 903

2
    1,579     1,215

3
    1,984     1,526

4
    2,389     1,838

5
    2,794     2,150

6
    3,200     2,461

7
    3,605     2,773

8
    4,010     3,085

Each additional member
    +406     +312

The current maximum allotment levels for the continental United States:

(October 2009 through September 2010)
People in Household     Maximum Monthly Allotment
1     

$    200
2     

$    367
3     

$    526
4     

$    668
5     

$    793
6     

$    952
7     

$ 1,052
8     

$ 1,202
Each additional person...     

$    150
26.  Need more information?

Local SNAP offices can provide information about eligibility, and USDA operates a toll-free number (800-221-5689) for people to receive information about SNAP benefits. For more information about SNAP or any of the Food and Nutrition Service’s 15 nutrition assistance programs, contact the Food and Nutrition Service Communications Staff at 703-305-2286, or by mail at 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302. You can also e-mail us at SNAPHQ-WEB@fns.usda.gov.

27.  Can’t find the answer?

If you have questions that are not answered here or elsewhere on our web site, e-mail us at SNAPHQ-WEB@fns.usda.gov. If you are interested in contacting us on technical questions about this site, please send an e-mail to webmaster@fns.usda.gov.

 

Last modified: 12/16/2009

I am a 29 year old mother of 3 and full time college student. I live in Tuscola county Michigan. I lost my job a year ago. My husband works hard to support us all. We have a room mate as well. He is a good family friend for over 15 years. He has no way to help us out with bills as he has so much debt he is buryed. I can not kick him out because he and his 3 (every other weekend) kids have no place else to go. We do not qualify for food stamps or medical help (except the kids). I recently had to pay an entire unemployment check just for glasses so I am able to see to drive to school.

 

I am looking for someone interested in helping us out with food. We would be interested in a slaughtered animal or anything else that people would be willing to help out with. We also burn wood as we can not afford propane and would be grateful if anyone has deliverable wood. We would be willing to do hard labor type work for you if any help is available.

 

Anyone out there that can help a regular country family, please let us know. I do not have newer pictures of us, as I do not own a camera. So, these are all I have.

 

God Bless.