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Food Stamp
Program Assistance
For the latest and most up to
date information, visit the USDA
web site.
Any program to combat hunger
must be part of a continuing Federal commitment to policies that
generate full employment with full-time, year round, living-wage
jobs. That kind economy has yet to be achieved, and, in the long
run, is likely to be insufficient to meet the nutritional needs
of all vulnerable populations. In a country that is not only rich
but also a producer of food in marvelous abundance, widespread
persistent hunger is simply unacceptable.
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Food Stamp Program
Summarized Eligibility Requirements
Households applying for or receiving
food stamp benefits must meet all applicable eligibility requirements
and must cooperate with the agency in establishing eligibility
for food stamp assistance. Failure to meet these requirements can
result in denial or termination of the food stamp case.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Household Members. The food stamp
household is composed of individuals who live together and purchase
and prepare their meals together for home consumption. Certain
individuals, such as spouses and children under age 22, must be
included in one food stamp household regardless of their method
of buying food and preparing meals.
- Strikers. Households with striking
members shall be ineligible to participate in the Food Stamp Program,
unless the household was eligible for benefits the day before the
strike and is otherwise eligible at the time of application. However,
the household shall not receive an increased allotment as a result
of a decrease in income of the striking household member(s).
- Citizenship and Alien Status. Only
U.S. citizens and eligible aliens may participate in the Food Stamp
Program.
- Social Security Numbers. The household
must furnish a Social Security Number for each household member.
If a household member does not have a number, s/he must apply for
one. The Social Security Number is used in computer matching and
program reviews or audits to make sure the household is eligible
for the food stamp benefits it receives.
- Residence. Households must apply
for food stamps in the county in which they live. They cannot receive
food stamps in more than one county in a month.
- Work Requirements. Unless otherwise
exempt, each household member must be registered for work. Failure
to cooperate with the work requirements may result in the entire
household being disqualified from participation in the Food Stamp
Program.
The entire household may be
disqualified from participation in the program if an individual voluntarily
quits a job or reduces the number of hours s/he works without good
cause.
Unless exempt, certain food
stamp recipients (between the ages of 18-50) who are able bodied
and have no dependents are eligible to receive food stamps for only
3 months in a 36 month period if s/he is not working or participating
in a work and training program for at least 20 hours a week. Individuals
are exempt from this provision during the time they are medically
certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment, or pregnant;
parent or other household member with responsibility for a dependent
child in the home under the age of 18 or physically or mentally disabled;
participating and complying with work registration requirements of
JOBS or UCB; caring for an incapacitated person; a student at least
half-time in a recognized school, training program, or institution
of higher education; participating in an alcohol/drug treatment program.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Income. Income limits vary according to the household size.
Households that contain no elderly or disabled individuals must
meet both the gross (income before deduction) and the net income
(income after allowable deductions) limits. Households that contain
an elderly (age 60 or over) individual or a disabled individual
must meet only the net income limits. See table below for both
the net and gross income limits according to household size. Income
includes wages, salaries, commissions, social security benefits,
SSI, veteran's benefits, child support, contributions, unemployment
compensation, etc.
Monthly Income Eligibility
Limits
Effective October 2004 - September 2005
| Household Size |
Gross Income Limits |
Net Income Limits |
| 1 |
$1009 |
$776 |
| 2 |
$1354 |
$1041 |
| 3 |
$1698 |
$1306 |
| 4 |
$2043 |
$1571 |
| 5 |
$2387 |
$1836 |
| 6 |
$2732 |
$2101 |
| 7 |
$3076 |
$2366 |
| 8 |
$3421 |
$2631 |
| Each Additional Member |
$345 |
$265 |
- Deductions. Only the following are
allowable deductions for food stamps:
-
Standard Deduction. Each household
is allowed a standard deduction of $134.
-
Earned Income Deduction. This
deduction is 20% of the gross earned income.
-
Self-Employment Deduction.
Households with self-employment income are entitled to a standard
deduction of 40% of the gross proceeds from the self-employment
income as a cost of doing-business.
-
Medical Deduction. Elderly
and/or disabled individuals may be entitled to a medical deduction
for any verified non-reimbursable medical expense they incur
during the certification period in excess of $35 per month,.
if reported during the certification period in which they are
incurred.
-
Dependent Care. The costs incurred
(up to a maximum amount) for the care of a child or other dependent
in order for a household member to work, seek employment, attend
training, or pursue education that is preparatory for employment.
-
Child Support. Legally obligated
child support paid by a household member to or for a non-household
member
-
Shelter Costs. These costs
include rent, mortgage, property taxes, insurance on the structure,
utilities, etc.
- Resources. The maximum allowable
resource limits of all household members shall not exceed $2,000
($3,000 for households containing a member 60 or over). Resources
include cash on hand, bank accounts, stocks, savings bonds, real
property (other than home property), cars, boats, motorcycles vans,
trailers, campers etc.
OTHER
- Application Processing. The application
process includes completing an application, filing the form in
the county in which the household lives, being inter-viewed, and
having certain information verified. The application interview
may be with a group of other applicants.
Households that meet the following criteria will have their application
acted on within 7 calendar days: households with less than $150 in
monthly gross income and their liquid resources, such as cash or
checking/savings' accounts are less than $100; the household's monthly
rent/mortgage and utilities are more than the household's gross monthly
income and liquid resources; the household is a destitute migrant
or seasonal farm worker with less than $100 in liquid resources.
All other households shall have their application acted upon within
30 days from the date they apply.
-
Confidentiality and Disclosure
of Information. All information given to the Department
is confidential and any use or disclosure will be made only
for certain limited purposes allowed under State or Federal
laws and regulations. Such purposes include, but are not limited
to, establishing eligibility, determining benefit amount and
providing services to applicants and recipients. Information
about how long you have received food stamps will be released
to the State Employment Service for purposes of qualify@g your
employer for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC).
-
Allotment Amounts. The
amount of food stamps a household actually receives depends on
the number of people in the food stamp household and the amount
of their net income.
-
Authorized Representative. The,
head of household, spouse, or other responsible household member
may designate an authorized representative to, act on behalf
of the household. This person may apply for benefits, obtain
the benefits and/or use the benefits for the food stamp household.
-
Quarterly Reporting. Some
households have to report their household situation quarterly
on a quarterly report form. These households have to report on
a quarterly basis regardless of whether there have been any changes
in their situation.
-
Change Reporting. Households
not required to quarterly report must report changes in their
household situation within 10 days of the date the change becomes
known to the household. These changes include someone moving
into or out of the household, changes in income of $25 or more,
acquisition of a vehicle, or when cash on hand, stocks, bonds
and money in a checking or savings account exceed $2,000 ($3,000
if the household contains an elderly individual).
-
Fair Hearings. A household
not satisfied with agency action affecting its participation
in the Food Stamp Program has the right to request a fair hearing
within 90 days of the action being appealed. The request may
be made orally or in writing to the County Department of Human
Resources, Food Stamp Office or to the Department of Human Resources,
Family Assistance Division, S. Gordon Persons Building, 50 Ripley
Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36130-4000, telephone (334) 242-1700.
The household's case may be presented by a household member or
a representative, such as a legal counsel, a relative, a friend
or other spokesperson. Free legal counsel may be available through
Legal Services Corporation of Alabama.
-
Ineligible Individuals. The
following individuals are ineligible to receive food stamps:
-
Anyone who is fleeing to avoid
prosecution, custody, or confinement after a felony conviction
under the law.
-
Anyone in violation of his/her
parole/probation.
-
Anyone found guilty -by a court
of using food stamps to buy firearms, ammunition, or explosives
These- individuals are permanently disqualified from receiving
food stamp benefits.
-
Anyone using food stamps to
buy illegal drugs may be disqualified from receiving food stamps
from 2 years to permanently.
-
Anyone convicted of a Federal
or State felony that has as an element the possession, use, or
distribution of a controlled substance. These individuals are
permanently disqualified from receiving food stamp benefits.
-
Anyone found guilty by a court
of selling food stamps of $500 or more. These individuals are
permanently disqualified from receiving food stamps.
-
Anyone who misrepresents his
identity or residence in order to receive multiple food stamps
benefits simultaneously. These individuals are ineligible to
receive food stamp benefits for 10 years from the date of conviction.
-
Anyone physically and mentally
fit between the ages of 18 and 50 not enrolled in an institution
of higher education who does not meet certain eligible student
criteria.
-
Anyone who does not meet citizenship
or alien status requirements.
-
Anyone who refuses or fails
without good cause to provide a social security number.
-
Anyone disqualified for not
complying with work requirements. This includes voluntarily quitting
a job or reducing the number of hours worked without good cause.
-
Anyone disqualified for violating
program regulations.
-
Over issuance. Any household
who receives food stamp benefits to which they are not entitled
may have to pay them back. In addition, any individual who receives
food stamp benefits due to established fraud may be disqualified
from participating in the Food Stamp Program from one year to
permanently, subject to prosecution and/or other penalties.
The Food Stamp Program, like
all programs and services of the Department of Human Resources
is administered in full compliance with Title VI of the Federal
Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and all other
Federal and State civil rights laws. "The USDA is an equal opportunity
provider and employer."
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