public benefits for low-income individuals and families applying for and using public benefit programs

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1 public benefits for low-income individuals and families applying for and using public benefit programs supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) Community Service Society Fighting Poverty Strengthening New York Benefits Plus Learning Center

2 The Community Service Society of New York (CSS), a non-partisan social services agency, has been in the forefront of the fight against poverty for over 170 years. It has pioneered programs for school children, low-income tenants, health care patients, immigrants and poor people of every color and race throughout its history. At the midway point of its second century, CSS continues to do research on the causes and solutions to poverty-induced problems and to provide needy people with direct emergency help. Using advocacy and court challenges, CSS works to effect societal changes to improve the lives of those in poverty and empower them to provide better conditions for their children and communities. The Benefits Plus Learning Center provides high-quality training, publications and consultation services to community based organizations in NYC that work with families and individuals in need of public benefit and housing programs. The training, publications and resources provided enable social service professionals to navigate a difficult and complex public benefits system on their clients behalf. Their premier publication, Benefits Plus, is a comprehensive online resource manual to federal, state and local government benefit and housing programs. Community Service Society of New York 105 East 22 nd Street New York, NY

3 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits Plus Learning Center A PROGRAM OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY Can be copied without CSS permission Publication of this brochure was made possible with funding from the Booth Ferris Foundation Last Updated: April

4 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) What Is SNAP? SNAP is a federal program that helps people with little or no income buy food. Who manages the SNAP Program? In NYC, the Human Resources Administration (HRA) is the agency that manages the SNAP Program. What can I buy with SNAP? You can use SNAP to buy almost all foods, prepared cold sandwiches or salads that will be eaten at home, as well seeds or plants that produce food. You can also buy nutritional supplements such as Ensure, Isomil, Boost and Sustacal, baby s formula, Pedialyte and Pediasure. You cannot use SNAP benefits to buy prepared hot meals in a grocery store, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, pet food, toiletries, paper or cleaning products, or any other non-food item. How do I get my SNAP benefits? If you are eligible, you will receive an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card. The amount of your SNAP benefits are programmed into your card every month. How does the EBT card work? This card works the same way as a debit card. You can go to any store that is participating in the SNAP program, and the cost of the food you buy will be deducted from your card. How do I know which stores accept SNAP? Stores that accept SNAP will have a Quest logo with a food bag. 4

5 What if I am having problems with EBT? You can: 1. Call the Customer Service Helpline at , the number that is on the back of your card. You can get information on your SNAP balances, getting a new PIN, reporting errors, whether shelter payments have been issued, and reporting lost, stolen or damaged cards. 2. Go online at You need to register the first time you log on. Once logged on, you will be able to get the same information as listed above. If you have any other questions about how to use your EBT card see the EBT brochure at: How much can I get in SNAP benefits? The amount of SNAP benefits you get depends on the number of people in your household and your monthly income. What is the most I could get in SNAP benefits? SNAP Benefits October 1, September 30, 2015 Household Size Maximum Amount of SNAP Benefits $194 $357 $511 $649 $771 $925 $1,022 $1,169 5

6 Each additional member + $146 Can I get SNAP benefits if I don t shop for myself? If you are can t shop for yourself, you can ask someone to be your authorized representative. This is a person you can trust to buy the food for you. How does someone become an authorized representative? If you want someone to become your authorized representative this person must have proof from you that you want him/her to be an authorized representative. You choose the authorized representative by signing the LDSS-4942: SNAP Program Authorized Representative Request Form. Both of you must also sign the form, ID Card Signature Authorization, E608vv, form. If I want an authorized representative to buy my food for me, do I give the person my EBT card? No, your authorized representative will get his/her own EBT card. The card will have the amount of your SNAP benefits on that card. If I have no food in the house can I get SNAP benefits quickly? That depends. If you have less than $150 in gross income and you have less than $100 in resources or your rent/mortgage is more than your combined resources and income for that month you may be able to get SNAP benefits within 5 days. This benefit is called expedited SNAP benefits. How do I apply for expedited SNAP benefits? EXPEDITED SNAP BENEFITS When you apply for SNAP, the SNAP center or the Job Center (where you apply for Cash Assistance) should automatically check to see if you qualify for expedited SNAP benefits. 6

7 How much do I get if I qualify for expedited SNAP benefits? If you qualify for expedited SNAP benefits, the amount you get depends on whether you apply for SNAP before or after the 15 th of the month. If you apply before the 15 th of the month you will get a pro-rated amount of SNAP benefits until the end of the month. If you apply after the 15 th of the month you will get a prorated amount of SNAP benefits until the end of the month, plus the full amount of SNAP benefits for the next month. How do I get expedited SNAP benefits? If you qualify, your expedited SNAP benefits will automatically be put on your EBT card. In NYC, if you do not have an EBT card, the SNAP Center or the Job Center will give you a referral. You should bring this referral to the center where they tell you to go to. At the center you will receive an EBT card with the appropriate amount of SNAP benefits. What if it is too late in the day to get expedited SNAP benefits on an EBT card? If it is late in the day the SNAP center may give you a vault card, a temporary card with the appropriate amount of SNAP benefits. You will then receive an EBT card in the mail, once processing has been completed. SNAP offices have vault cards readily available in case of these situations. Who Does SNAP Consider Part of My Household? Under the SNAP rules a household is either a single person who lives alone or a group of people who live together and buy and eat meals together. Why is it important to know who SNAP considers part of my household? When the SNAP program figures out how much in SNAP benefits you can get, they figure it out based on the number of people in your household. 7

8 Whose income will SNAP look at? The SNAP program will count the income of every person who is part of your household. If family members do not buy and eat meals together, can they be in a separate household? That depends. Certain family members living together are always a single household whether they buy and eat meals together or not. Which family members must be considered a single household? The following must be considered a single household: Spouses or common-law spouses Parents living with children under 22 Children under 18 (not including foster children) who are under the parental control of an adult who is not their parent or stepparent. What is parental control? Parental control is when a child under 18 is living with an adult, who is 18 or older, who is giving 50% or more of that child s support in terms of housing, food, and clothing. This adult can be a sibling, a grandparent, a cousin, or other adults, like a neighbor. So other relatives living in the same household can be separate SNAP households, if they purchase and prepare their meals separately? Yes. What if a roomer is living with me, how will SNAP treat them? If you have a roomer (someone who pays for their room, but they do not eat any meals with you) living with you, you will not include them in the household because you are not purchasing and preparing meals together. 8

9 Can roomers apply for SNAP on their own? Yes, they can. What if a boarder is living with me, how will SNAP treat them? If you have a boarder (someone who pays you for their room and meals) living in your household, you can choose whether or not you want to include them in the household. If you decide to include them in the household, their income will count toward the household s eligibility. If you do not include them, their income will not count. But the money they pay you will count as a part of your total income. If I decide not to include a boarder in the household, can they apply for SNAP on their own? No, they cannot. How will SNAP treat foster children? If you have foster children living with you, you have a choice to include them in the household size or not. What if I include them in the household size, how will the foster care income count? If you include the foster children in your household, only the foster care income that is used for normal living expenses can be used when making a decision about your eligibility for SNAP or when figuring out how much in SNAP benefits you can get. What kind of expenses are not part of normal living expenses? Expenses that are not part of normal living expenses are things like school activities, music lessons, and camp fees. What if I do not include my foster care children in the household size, how will the foster care income count? 9

10 If you do not include the foster care children in your household, their income cannot be used when SNAP makes a decision about your eligibility or when figuring out how much in SNAP benefits you can get. Who Can Get SNAP? You can get SNAP if you and your family members pass certain tests called eligibility criteria. These criteria are explained below. How Much Income Can I Have? What is income? Income is a recurring payment from any source such as work, Social Security, a pension, unemployment insurance, disability benefits, bank interest or any other sources of income. How does SNAP look at my income? First SNAP looks at your gross income your total income before taxes or any other type of deduction is taken from your income, whether it is paycheck or other kinds of income. Your gross income must fall below certain SNAP guidelines. This is known as the gross income test. Is there any type of income that SNAP will not count when figuring out what my gross income is? Yes. SNAP does not consider in-kind income, loans, the earned income tax credit, court ordered child support, housing subsidies, FEPS supplements, or HEAP payments as part of your gross income. What is in-kind income? In-kind income is not cash, but goods or services that can be used directly or indirectly to provide food or shelter. For example, if your sister gives you groceries every month worth $100, this would be in-kind income. Or if your mother pays your rent for you directly to the landlord, this would be in-kind income. 10

11 How much income can I have and still pass the Gross Income Test? The answer to that question depends. Some households must have a gross income below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), some households must have a gross income below 200% of the FPL, and some households do not have a gross income test at all. Which households have a gross income test of 200% FPL? Households that have child care/dependent care costs (they pay for child care out-of-pocket) because they are working, looking for work, have accepted a job, are attending an employment training program, or going to school that prepares them to work have a gross income test of 200% FPL. Which households have no gross income test? A household with a member who is 60 and over or a household with a member who is disabled do not have a gross income test. Who does SNAP consider disabled? SNAP considers anyone who is disabled if she or he is receiving a disability benefit, such as Social Security Disability, SSI, Medicaid-disabled, veterans with a non-service connected disability rated 100% by the VA, or anyone receiving a federal, state or local government disability pension considered permanent under the Social Security Act. By the way, just because you are in a household with a member who is 60 and over or disabled does not mean you will get SNAP benefits. SNAP will still do a budget to determine if you can get any SNAP benefits. Which households have a gross income test of 130% FPL? All other households have a gross income test of 130% FPL. 11

12 What are 130% FPL and 200% FPL? Household Size Federal Poverty Levels October 1, September 30, 2015 Maximum Gross Monthly Income (130% FPL) Maximum Gross Monthly Income for Childcare Expenses (200% FPL) 1 $1,265 $1, ,705 2, ,144 3, ,584 3, ,024 4, ,464 5, ,904 6, ,344 6,682 Each additional member $677 If I pass the gross income test, can I get SNAP benefits? Maybe. Besides the gross income test, SNAP also does a SNAP budget to see if you are eligible for SNAP and how much you can get in SNAP. What does SNAP look at when they do a SNAP budget? SNAP looks at how much you pay for your shelter, whether you have child care or dependent care costs, whether you have earned income or not. All of these factors, as well as some other factors, are part of the SNAP budget. How can I figure out if I might be eligible for SNAP benefits? You can go to our SNAP budget calculator at 12

13 There you can input your household income information and see if you might be eligible for SNAP and how much. Please Note: This calculator is only good in NYS and only tests for income, not for other eligibility criteria like immigration status. If you have household members who are not eligible for SNAP because of their immigration status, this calculator will not give you the right answer. How Many Resources Can I Own? Most households no longer have a resource test. There a few kinds of households that still have a resource test. These households include those who have a sanction or an intentional program violation. In addition if you are a household with a member who is elderly or disabled and your gross income is more than 200% of the federal poverty level you also are subject to the resource test. What is a sanction or an intentional program violation? A sanction is when a SNAP household member does not follow a SNAP program rule, most often a SNAP work requirement. An intentional program violation happens when you deliberately lie or make a misleading statement or hid a fact concerning your eligibility for SNAP. If my household has to pass the resource test, what is the maximum amount of resources I can own? You are allowed up to $2,250 per household; $3,250 for households with a member who is 60 and over or with a member who is disabled. What kind of resources does the Human Resources Administration count? Any property that you own, if you are not living in it as your primary residence Funds in bank accounts, stock accounts, or bonds that can be turned into cash All the money in a joint bank account, unless you are able to show that it belongs to someone else 13

14 What kind of resources does the HRA not count? Home of any value, if you live in it Household goods and personal effects One burial plot per household member Up to $1,500 of burial funds and/or agreements for burial services and headstones per household member The cash value of life insurance policies, unless cashed Funds held in irrevocable trusts or agreements Automobiles; one licensed vehicle per adult household member And more Where Must I Live? You must be a resident of United States to qualify for SNAP. If you live in NYC you can apply in any of the five boroughs. Must I Be A U.S. citizen? No, you can be an immigrant, however, only certain kind of immigrants, known as qualified aliens might be eligible for SNAP. What is a qualified alien? A qualified alien is a term used to describe specific immigration statuses and includes legal permanent residents, refugees, asylees, those who have withholding of deportation, parolees who have been admitted to the U.S. for at least one year, Cuban/Haitian entrants, Amerasians and people who have been granted a T visa through the Victims of Trafficking & Violence Protection Act of If you are not in one of these immigration statuses you are probably not eligible to receive SNAP. However, you may want to check with an agency to make sure. If I am a qualified alien, can I get SNAP? Not necessarily. Just because you are a qualified alien does not mean that you meet this eligibility test. Only certain qualified aliens are eligible. Qualified aliens who are eligible are: 14

15 Qualified aliens who are disabled (this means they are receiving a disability benefit, such as Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance, issued by the government). Refugees, asylees, persons granted withholding of deportation, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and Amerasians and people who have been granted a T visa through the Victims of Trafficking & Violence Protection Act of 2000 Individuals who have lawfully resided in the U. S. as qualified aliens for 5 years. Qualified aliens who are under 18 years of age, regardless of the date of entry into the U.S. Qualified aliens, 65 and older on or before 8/22/96, who were lawfully residing in the U. S. before 8/22/96. Qualified aliens who are on active duty in the U.S. armed forces, or honorably discharged veterans and their dependents. Legal permanent residents (these are people with a green card ) who have 40 quarters of coverage under the Social Security system. How do I get a quarter of coverage? When you work both you and your employer pay a certain tax called a FICA tax. This tax goes to the Social Security Trust Fund, which is your contribution to the Social Security system. In 2015, when you earn $1,220 you receive one quarter of coverage with Social Security. You can only receive a maximum of 4 quarters a year. When you have 40 quarters, this usually takes 10 years to collect. This rule only applies to Legal Permanent Residents. U.S. citizens do not need any quarters to receive SNAP. Do I have to collect all 40 quarters on my own? 40 Quarters If you are a legal permanent resident, you do not have to collect all 40 quarters on your own work record. You can use count quarters that your parents earned before you turned 18. Or, you can use your spouse s quarters of coverage. But the work your spouse did must have been done while you were married. Any work before you were married does not count. And your spouse s work record can only be counted while you remain married. So, if you divorce you will no longer be able to use their quarters. 15

16 What if my spouse dies, can I still use his/her quarters? Yes, you can. Must I Have A Job? No, you do not have to have a job to receive SNAP benefits. But if you are between the ages of 16 and 59, you are required to register for work at the time of you apply for SNAP benefits, unless you meet an exemption. The SNAP center will register you for work, if they think you are able to work What happens when I register for work? Once you are registered for work the local SNAP center may assign you to a work activity. You must attend this activity if you want to continue to receive SNAP benefits. If HRA does not assign you to a work activity, you can continue to receive SNAP benefits. Also if you find a job on your own, you must accept the job offer. Is anyone excused from having to work? Yes. You are excused if you are: Younger than 16 or 60 years or older 16 or 17 and attending school or training on at least a half-time basis A student enrolled at least half-time in a recognized school, training or education program, including college Working at least 30 hours a week or earning a salary that is equal to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour multiplied by 30 hours Receiving Cash Assistance and are participating in the work activities of that program Caring for a child under the age of 6, or a person of any age who is unable to care for themselves Physically or mentally unfit for work if you are not receiving a disability benefit you must have documentation from a physician that you are disabled Getting Unemployment Insurance benefits Part of a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program 16

17 Does SNAP have any Time Limits? For many people there are no time limits. But able bodied adults 18 through 49 can only receive 3 months of SNAP in a 3 year period, unless you are excused, that is, you meet one of the exemptions listed above, or you are working at least at minimum wage for at least 80 hours a month or you are working in a WEP assignment or another work activity under Cash Assistance. Are there any other exceptions? The same exceptions apply for ability to work as time limit on SNAP. Also, if you are pregnant, or you are part of a household that has a child under 18, or you are a domestic violence survivor, or you are in a refugee training program you are exempt. What happens after I receive my 3 months of SNAP benefits and they stop because of this rule, but then I find a job? When you begin working at minimum wage for at least 80 hours a month you can reapply for SNAP, if you still meet all the criteria of the program. And what happens if I lose my job within this 3-year period? If you lose a job through no fault of your own you can get an additional 3 months of SNAP. This additional 3 months of eligibility is only given once in a 3-year period. How Do I Apply For SNAP? You can apply for SNAP in several ways. If you are applying for Cash Assistance, you can apply for SNAP at the same time at the Job Center. If you are applying for SSI and are living alone you will get SNAP benefits automatically when you begin receiving SSI. If you are receiving SSI and living alone and are not receiving SNAP benefits you should call the SSI SNAP office at (718) to get the problem fixed. If you are not applying for Cash Assistance or SSI you can: 17

18 File an application at a local SNAP office. To find the nearest SNAP location call the HRA Infoline at (718) Call 311 or the HRA Infoline at to request the SNAP application package be mailed to you. Once you receive the application you should complete and sign it, include all the documents that the instructions tell you to and mail it back to SNAP by using the envelope they included in the package. Can submit an application online through the ACCESS NYC website at Once the SNAP office receives the application, they will schedule a phone interview with you. If you have access to a fax machine, you can fax the application and your documents to the Mail Application Referral Unit (MARU) at It is important to include your phone number in the application so SNAP can schedule a phone interview with you. What type of documents will SNAP ask for? You must be able to prove all the statements you made on the your application, including proof of identity, proof of income, proof of resources, proof of residency, proof of age, disability or blindness, proof of citizenship/ immigration status. SNAP will give you a checklist of documentation requirements. SNAP will generally accept the following documents: Proof of Identity Driver s License Photo ID Birth certificates Proof of Income Pay stub for the previous four weeks Award letters for other benefits Proof of Residence Rent receipt Recent utility bill Lease 18

19 Proof of Citizenship U.S. Passport Citizenship papers USCIS Documentation Proof of Social Security Number Proof of Disability Social Security Disability award letter Award letter from the VA showing 100% disabled Disability certification from Medicaid I heard you have to be finger imaged. Is this true? Finger imaging is no longer required in order to receive SNAP benefits. How and when will I know if I am accepted for SNAP? You will receive a written notice from SNAP telling you if you are eligible or not within 30 days of filing your application. How Do I Keep My SNAP Benefits? You have to continue to prove that you meet all the eligibility criteria even after you are first approved. This process is known as recertification. How often must I recertify? After you become eligible for SNAP, you must recertify at least once a year to keep your benefits. How will I know when to recertify? You will receive a recertification notice in the mail before your SNAP benefits will end. What must I do during recertification? You can file your recertification form in-person, through an authorized representative, by mail, or by fax. You should return this recertification form by mail by the 15 th of the last month in which you are certified to receive SNAP. 19

20 You must also have a recertification interview to continue to receive SNAP. In NYC FS recipients who are not receiving Cash Assistance will recertify by telephone unless they request an in-person interview. What are My Rights? Almost any time that HRA makes a decision about your case, they must send you a written notice. This includes when they want to accept your case, reject your case, close your case, take back some of the benefits they gave you or reduce the amount of your SNAP benefits. In all of these cases, they must send a notice that describes what they are going to do and why. You have both informal and formal rights. What are my informal rights? You can try to speak with your worker or your worker s supervisor. You also have the right to request an informal conference to get the problem resolved. To request a conference call your local center. What are my formal rights? You have the right to request a fair hearing within 90 days of the date on your notice if you have been denied SNAP benefits and you feel that you should be eligible. To request a fair hearing call: (800) , fax (518) ; for adjournments call: (877) To write for a fair hearing: Office of Administrative Hearings New York State Department of Social Services P.O. Box 1930 Albany, New York Or make a request online at: What happens at the fair hearing? There will be a judge who works for the state, HRA will have someone there to explain why they believe they are doing the right thing, and you will have the opportunity to explain why you believe they are not correct. 20

21 When you prepare for a hearing, you should think about whether there are documents or witnesses that can help you win your case. You can also have a lawyer, paralegal, social worker, a community advocate or even a friend, help you at your hearing. What is aid continuing? If you are receiving SNAP and are mailed a notice which states that your SNAP will end, you can continue to receive SNAP if you request a fair hearing within 10 days of the date on the notice. Where Can I Turn for Help? SNAP Program Human Resources Administration Office 250 Church Street, 7th Floor New York, New York, (212) , Fax (212) HRA Infoline at for: Applications for SNAP SNAP Office Locations Replacement SNAP Cards NYC Hunger Hotline: (866) Legal Services Benefits Plus Learning Center Information Line (212)