FOOD STAMPS

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION:

The Food Stamp program is a federal program administered by the US Dept. of Agriculture and managed in Connecticut by the Department of Social Services (DSS). The following is summarized from the DSS website, http://www.ct.gov/dss/cwp/view.asp?a=2345&q=304872#FoodStamps

WHO CAN GET FOOD STAMPS?

A person must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen to qualify for food stamps

U.S. citizens and certain legal immigrants who have little or no income and very few assets are likely to be eligible for food stamps. This includes, but is not limited to, people who are:

• Unemployed
• Retired with no or low pension or Social Security income
• Working, but earning low wages
• On state cash assistance (TFA, SAGA, or State Supplement)
• Homeless
• Legal immigrants who are disabled and receiving disability benefits (SSI, or disability-related Medicaid) are eligible for federal food stamps without a waiting period. Sponsor deeming and sponsor liability apply to disabled immigrants who entered the U.S. after December 19, 1997 and have enforceable affidavits of support.
• Students in post-secondary schools (college) can receive food stamps if:
  • Age under 18 or 60+
  • Physically or mentally disabled
  • Receiving TFA
  • Responsible for more that 50% of the care of a dependent family member if under age 6 or age 6-12 if adequate care is not available
  • Enrolled less than half time
  • Enrolled half time or more and employed a minimum of 20 hrs/wk
  • Placed in higher education by the Workforce Investment Act (former JTPA) program.

WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD STAMPS (Effective July 1, 2006)
Federal law limits Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) to 3 months of Food Stamps in 3 years, unless they are working, doing community service, or in an approved employment/training program for at least 80 hours a month.

Able-bodied adults who live in towns with high unemployment rates are exempt from the work requirement and the time limit. These towns are: Beacon Falls, Bridgeport, Brooklyn, Chaplin, Eastford, East Hartford, Hampton, Hartford, Killingly, Middlebury, Naugatuck, New Britain, New Haven, Plainfield, Prospect, Putnam, Scotland, Sterling, Thompson, Waterbury, Watertown, Windham, Wolcott and Woodstock.

WHO CANNOT GET FOOD STAMPS?

The following CANNOT get food stamps, regardless of how low their income is:

• Most strikers.
• Most college and university students between the ages of 18-59, unless they meet one of the exceptions listed above
• Illegal immigrants

 USDA WEB SITE ON IMMIGRANT ELIGIBILITY

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/rules/Memo/Support/03/polimgrt.htm

INCOME  RESTRICTIONS

• GROSS income limit for most households is 130% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). When calculating income, use the FPL chart for the previous year until October 1. (i.e. the chart that is effective April 1 for most programs is not effective for food stamps until October 1.)
• Households with an elderly (ages 60+) or disabled member do not have to meet a gross income limit. Instead, shelter, medical, and other qualifying expenses are deducted from gross income. After deductions, the net income cannot be more than 100% of the FPL.

ASSET RESTRICTIONS

• ASSET limit is $2,000. (Exception: if there is at least one person in the household who is disabled or age 60+, then the asset limit is $3,000.)
• Not all assets count toward the asset limit.
• The value of a house a person owns and lives in is not counted and a lien is not placed on a home.
• The "fair market value" of the family's first car that is over $9500 is counted towards the asset limit. For second car, the value over $4650 is counted. (A library or auto dealer will have books that show value.)
• Effective 7/1/07 no amount of the value of a car is counted as an asset.

WHERE DO PEOPLE APPLY?

• Apply for Food Stamps at the DSS office that serves your town.
• If disabled and unable to go to a DSS office, you can request that an authorized representative apply for you.
• People who apply for or receive SSI can apply for Food Stamps at the Social Security office located nearest their home.

DOWNLOAD AN ELECTRONIC APPLICATION:

http://www.ct.gov/dss/lib/dss/pdfs/w-1food.pdf

WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED?

• Identification
• Proof of citizenship or refugee status.
• Legal immigrants with permanent residence status ("green card") should call to ask what documentation is required.
• Proof of earned and unearned income
• Documentation of countable assets (bank account statements, stocks, bonds, CDs, etc.
• Social Security numbers for everyone in the household.
• Verification of your shelter expenses, such as rent receipt or lease and utility bills.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET FOOD STAMPS?

The DSS office must act on applications within 30 days of the date a person signs an application. Eligible households will have benefits in their EBT account within four days of the date that DSS grants their application.

In emergency situations, person may be eligible for Expedited Food Stamps, which can be obtained within 7 days instead of 30 days. (See EXPEDITED FOOD STAMPS, below.)

The 30 day period begins the day that the applicant SIGNS the application. Also, the first month of food stamps are prorated from the day that the application is signed, so it is very important to at least put name and address on the application and SIGN it, even if the applicant needs to provide more information and/or documentation to support the application.

EXPEDITED FOOD STAMPS (also known as EMERGENCY FOOD STAMPS)

Some people can get Food Stamps within seven days of the date they apply. To qualify for Expedited Food Stamps person must:

• Have income less than $150 per month and assets of $100 or less.
• OR have monthly rent/mortgage and utility expenses that are more than total monthly income plus liquid assets.
• OR be a destitute migrant or seasonal farm worker
• ID is the only documentation required for the first month of expedited food stamps

ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (EBT)

All Food Stamp benefits are issued into the recipient's EBT account. If your last name starts with A-F, you will receive benefits on that 1^st of the month; G-N on the 2^nd, and O-Z on the 3^rd. Benefits are issued on these dates even if it's a holiday or weekend.

When granted Food Stamps, an EBT card is mailed to you, along with instructions on how to set up your PIN (Personal Identification Number).This number is your secret code that allows only you to access your benefits. If you give this number to someone else, they can access your benefits if they have your card. Keep your PIN number safe and do not keep it with your card. Benefits removed from your EBT account will not be replaced.

The household can request that the EBT card and PIN be mailed. The client should request this at the time the case is granted or a replacement card is requested. If you lose your EBT card, you must contact your worker to get a new card.

WHAT IS THE APPEAL PROCESS IF FOOD STAMPS ARE DENIED?

Request for appeal of a denial must be made within 90 days of the date of the decision notice. Request a hearing by contacting the local DSS office or write to: Fair Hearing Unit, Department of Social Services, 25 Sigourney St., Hartford, CT 06106.

ADVOCACY

For information concerning legal rights or for assistance with an appeal call Statewide Legal Services. End Hunger Connecticut provides legislative and administrative advocacy for the food needs of low income children and adults in the State of Connecticut.

OTHER RESOURCES

End Hunger Connecticut has an online food stamp prescreening tool at http://www.ctfoodstamps.org/.

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by service name: Food Stamps

SOURCES: Conn. State Dept. of Social Services and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
PREPARED BY: 211/rj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: August2007