Where can I get help? SNAP Facts by Population

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1 Where can I get help? Any time you have questions about the application process or your SNAP benefits, call the URI SNAP Outreach Project Hotline at , or visit online at SNAP Facts by Population You may also call the DHS Call Center toll free: to find out information about your case. You can use the automated service at any time to find the status of your application or recertification, or press 3 to speak with a DHS worker available Monday-Friday from 8:30am- 3:30pm. The SNAP Outreach Project is a collaboration among the URI Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America, RI Department of Human Services, and the US Department of Agriculture. The University of Rhode Island is an equal opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action. The University of Rhode Island is an equal opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action. SNAP Populations December URI SNAP Outreach Project The URI SNAP Outreach Project helps low-income individuals and families throughout Rhode Island access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

2 Where are the SNAP offices? What is the Purpose of This Pamphlet? This pamphlet has been created by the SNAP Outreach Project to serve as a resource for community agency advocates. It is a guide you can use to answer the questions of specific populations of potential Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applicants. The URI SNAP Outreach Project helps low-income individuals and families throughout Rhode Island access benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program through a contract with the RI Department of Human Services (DHS). If at any time, you have questions, the URI SNAP Outreach Project is here to help via phone, agency trainings, site visits, and outreach materials. You can contact us directly, toll-free, at Below is a list of all DHS SNAP offices, along with the main office phone number, fax number, the intake line (call if you have a question on a new application or need to reschedule your interview), the recertification line (call to reschedule your recertification interview), and the change line (call to report changes to your case). For EBT replacement, call the EBT customer service line at * You can choose to bring your application or documents to the location most convenient for you, or mail them to: RI Department of Human Services: P.O. Box 8709, Cranston, RI Newport: 272 Valley Road, Middletown, RI Fax: Intake: Recertification: Changes: Pawtucket: 249 Roosevelt Ave, Pawtucket, RI Fax: Intake: Recertification: Changes: Providence: 206 Elmwood Ave, Providence, RI Fax: Intake: Recertification: Changes: South County: 4808 Tower Hill Rd, South Kingstown, RI Fax: Intake: Recertification: Changes: Warwick: 195 Buttonwoods Ave, Warwick, RI Fax: Intake: Recertification: Changes: Woonsocket: 800 Clinton St, 2nd Floor, Suite 201, Woonsocket, RI 02895, Fax: *As of September 13, DHS launched a new computer system in which you can now apply on-line for benefits. With this system there are ongoing changes to DHS procedures and policies. Please contact the SNAP Outreach Project if you have questions about any of the information in this booklet:

3 SNAP Facts For College Students The Department of Human Services (DHS) uses the term Institution of Higher Education to describe any institution which normally requires a high school diploma or equivalency for enrollment. It does not apply to most job training programs. Students between the ages of 18-49, who are enrolled as a half or full time student in an institution of higher education may be eligible only by meeting one of the following criteria: Work on average 20 hours each week -OR- Work in a state or federally funded work-study program -OR- Have responsibility for the care of a child under age 6 -OR- Have a child age 6-12 and do not have adequate child care -OR- Have a disability or medical condition that prohibits you from working * Exception: Students who have a meal plan through their school cannot receive SNAP benefits. Students over the age of 49, or any students enrolled less than half time do not have to meet the above guidelines, but they will still have to meet SNAP income guidelines. Low-income individuals and families may be eligible for nutrition assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP (formerly the Food Stamp Program). What is in this pamphlet? General SNAP Facts..... Page 4-7 SNAP Facts about Income Page 8-9 SNAP Facts for: Families with Children...Page Seniors Page Individuals with Disabilities.Page Individuals Experiencing Homelessness...Page SNAP Facts for Non-Citizens. Page College Students...Page 22 Where are the SNAP offices...page 23 Where can you get help?...back Cover When students determine income and expenses: Grants and loans, which cover tuition costs, are not counted as income. If you live separately from your parents or legal guardian, you will not have to report their income. If you live with roommates but do not share food costs, you can apply as a separate household. 22 3

4 General SNAP Facts Community Assistance Application assistance is available. Applicants can call the SNAP outreach hotline, , to ask questions about SNAP, eligibility guidelines, and how to apply. SNAP Outreach workers are also available at community agencies throughout the state for one-on-one help. Access There are enough SNAP benefits for everyone who is eligible. Anyone who applies and qualifies will receive benefits. Receiving benefits does not take away from anyone else in need. There are alternatives to going to a DHS office to apply for benefits. Paper applications may be mailed or faxed into the office or applicants may apply on-line at Though every SNAP applicant must have an interview with a DHS staff member to determine eligibility, every applicant has the right to choose an in person or phone interview. If an applicant is uncomfortable or unable to complete the interview, he or she may choose a trusted friend or relative to complete the interview for him or her. This person is called an authorized representative. SNAP Facts for Non-Citizens (Continued) Helpful Definitions: Eligible: The household member with this immigration status may receive SNAP benefits if they meet the SNAP income guidelines. Not all household members must be eligible for one to be eligible. Five Year Rule: Immigrants age 18 and older with legal permanent resident status cannot be eligible for SNAP benefits until they have had that status for five years. This is determined by the date on their green card. Sponsor Deeming: Immigrants brought to the United States through sponsorship of an individual who has signed an affidavit of support (all individual sponsors since 1996) are subject to sponsor deeming. That means a portion of the sponsor s income is considered to be available to the immigrant. Therefore an immigrant SNAP applicant will have to provide their sponsor s income to DHS until the immigrant is a citizen, has 40 quarters of work history with the Social Security Administration, or the sponsor dies. 4 21

5 SNAP Facts for Non-Citizens Immigrants who may be eligible (Continued) Eligible? Subject to: 5 Year Rule Naturalized US Citizens Yes No Lawful permanent residents under the age of 18 Refugees, Asylees, Cuban/Haitian Entrants, Trafficking Victims Adult Immigrants who have had Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status Lawful permanent residents with 40 quarters of work history with the Social Security Administration Immigrant who are not eligible Undocumented immigrants Yes Yes Yes Yes Eligible? No No No Yes No General SNAP Facts (Continued) Access (Continued) Benefits may be available the same day the applicant applies, within 7 days or within 30 days. Same day service: DHS may determine your eligibility in 1 day if you go into the office and are able to wait for an available worker and are prepared to complete your interview that day. Expedited timeline: DHS has 7 days to complete an interview and determine eligibility if the household has less than $100 in cash and savings and less than $150 in monthly earnings, or if housing expenses exceed monthly income. DHS will automatically put your case on the 7 day timeline based on your answers to application questions. General timeline: DHS has 30 days to complete an interview and determine eligibility. Interpreters are available. If an applicant needs an interpreter at an interview, DHS must provide one at no cost to the applicant. Call the office before the interview to make sure the interpreter will be there for the day of the interview. LPR adults who have been in the US for fewer than 5 years Non-qualified immigrants lawfully residing in the US (ie. Student visa, temporary protected status) No No 20 Some DHS offices have certain safety procedures that everyone must follow. At offices with a metal detector, all people entering the building must go through the metal detector. A security guard may also inspect any bags brought into the building. 5

6 Documentation General SNAP Facts (Continued) There are always alternative documents that will meet the verification needs of DHS. Applicants for SNAP may be asked for proof of income, expenses or residency. Clients who do not have access to requested documents should ask the DHS worker for alternatives or assistance getting what was requested. Benefits SNAP benefits vary depending on the household s income and expenses. For example, the benefit amount for a single person may be anywhere between $16 and $194 a month. The benefit amount for a two person household may be anywhere between $16 and $357. The only way to know how much a household will receive is to apply for SNAP. (Benefit amounts change yearly, please call for the latest information.) Immigrants who have come to this country as refugees or asylees may be eligible for SNAP benefits. Applicants still must meet income eligibility guidelines. Receiving SNAP benefits does not affect an application for citizenship. An immigrant will not be deported, denied entry to the U.S., or denied permanent status or a green card because their family receives SNAP. The U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services does not consider an immigrant who receives SNAP to be a public charge. Undocumented individuals are not eligible for SNAP. Undocumented immigrants are NOT eligible for SNAP, but other members of their household (including children who are US citizens) may be. Please see the tables and definitions on the following pages for a quick look at immigrant status eligibility. How an applicant receives their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card varies. If they went into a DHS office for an interview, they should receive a card there. If they didn t get an EBT card at the interview, one will be mailed to them. If they had a telephone interview the EBT card will be mailed. EBT cards are given to all applicants but only activated when applicants are approved. 6 19

7 SNAP Facts for Non-Citizens The Department of Human Services (DHS) uses the term non-citizen to describe someone who is neither a natural born nor naturalized citizen of the United States. Some, but not all, non-citizens are eligible for SNAP benefits. Immigrants with Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status may be eligible for SNAP benefits. Children under age 18 who have LPR status may be eligible for SNAP benefits. Adults age 18 or older with LPR status may be eligible for SNAP benefits only after they ve had that status for five years. That date can be found on their green card. Adults with LPR status who have not had that status for 5 years may also be eligible for benefits if they have served in the US armed forces or have 40 quarters of work history registered with the US Social Security Administration. Children of immigrants may be eligible even if their parent does not qualify. Children who are Legal Permanent Residents or US citizens may receive SNAP benefits even if their parents do not meet immigrant eligibility guidelines. Adult household members will only have to prove income and household expenses. Proof of identity and immigration status for the ineligible adult is not necessary. Benefits (Continued) General SNAP Facts (Continued) How the EBT card works. Benefits will be automatically deposited on the EBT card on the first of the month, every month. Cards are used to buy food at grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and some farmers markets. The EBT card looks and works just like a debit card. Clients should not throw away the card when they have spent all their benefits for the month. They will use the same card every month. Lost EBT Cards If a client loses their EBT card, they should call the EBT card phone number listed on page 23 to request a new one. Assets/Resources SNAP applicants may be eligible even if they have a car, house or bank account. The value of a car or house, life insurance policy, retirement account or education savings fund does not impact SNAP eligibility. Utilities Assistance Utilities assistance is available to SNAP households. The A-60, low-income residential rate will lower a monthly electric bill for SNAP households. Lifeline, a reduced cost telephone service is available to all SNAP households through Verizon or Cox Communications. 18 7

8 SNAP Facts About Income The Department of Human Services (DHS) uses the following terms about income: Earned income is income received from working at a job, self-employment or a training allowance. Unearned income is income received by a household member that is not from working. It may include government benefits, pensions, or child support. Households may be eligible for SNAP benefits even if someone in the household is working. Many individuals working full or part-time and earning a low wage may be eligible for SNAP benefits. Sometimes, SNAP recipients with income from working receive more SNAP benefits than those who do not work because DHS will deduct a portion of the earned income of the working household member when determining eligibility. Most applicants do not need to show a Social Security card to get SNAP. Generally, applicants do not need to show a Social Security card but will need to provide a Social Security number. DHS confirms Social Security numbers with the Social Security Administration. If the Social Security number provided does not match the applicant s name, then a Social Security card will be necessary. Individuals and families experiencing homelessness may use the Restaurant Meals Program. People experiencing homelessness may use their EBT card at select Subway restaurants. Call the URI SNAP Outreach Hotline at for more information about this program. There are special procedures for replacing EBT cards for individuals without a permanent address. Generally, if a SNAP recipient needs to replace an EBT card due to loss or damage, the replacement card must be mailed. A SNAP recipient experiencing homelessness is able to go to a DHS office and receive a replacement card there. A household with unearned income may be eligible for SNAP benefits. Almost all forms of unearned income will be counted as income by DHS when determining SNAP eligibility. Examples of unearned income include, but are not limited to: Social Security, SSI, the state supplemental payment, RI Works, Temporary Disability Insurance, Unemployment, child support, alimony, pensions, educational grants and loans in excess of school expenses, income from excluded household members or from sponsor deeming. Unearned income of children within a household also counts as household income. 8 17

9 SNAP Facts For Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness The Department of Human Services (DHS) classifies homeless individuals as an individual who lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence. This includes individuals or families staying in a shelter, motel or temporarily staying in someone else s home for fewer than ninety days. Getting SNAP benefits does not require a permanent address. SNAP does not require a recipient to have a residence. A mailing address is necessary because DHS will send SNAP forms and information through the mail. If the mail is not responded to, the case may be closed. SNAP applicants may ask a family member or friend for permission to use their mailing address. Some community agencies will also allow clients to use their mailing address. If there is no available mailing address, federal regulations require the DHS worker to enter the address of the DHS office. There are many ways to prove identity. All SNAP applicants will be asked to prove identity. Identity may be proven with a driver s license, birth certificate, or other type of ID. If an applicant does not have any identification, someone else who knows the applicant can go to DHS to identify him or her. DHS calls this form of identification collateral contact. 16 Households with no income may be eligible for SNAP benefits. It is not necessary to have income to be found eligible for SNAP benefits. However, applicants who report no income but report paying monthly expenses may be asked to show how they pay those expenses. A SNAP applicant who has recently lost or left a job may be eligible for SNAP benefits. Individuals who lost a job may apply for benefits regardless of their income before the job loss. Applicants will have to provide documentation of their last paid day of work or termination notice. An applicant who has recently lost a job and has applied for unemployment insurance should not wait to apply for SNAP benefits. They may receive SNAP benefits while the unemployment case is pending and then report a change in income to DHS if Unemployment Insurance benefits are awarded. Individuals who left a job will have to provide proof of why they left before being eligible for SNAP. Applicants who quit a job within 60 days of applying for SNAP benefits may not be eligible to receive benefits unless they can prove they quit due to good cause. Good cause may be having worked in a hostile or discriminatory environment, or having not been paid for work performed. Self-employed individuals may also be eligible for SNAP benefits. When determining the income of a self-employed individual, including those who own rental property, DHS will review the applicant s income after deducting the cost of doing business. Self-employed applicants should provide documentation of both income and expenses. 9

10 SNAP Facts for Families with Children Low-income families may be eligible for nutrition assistance through SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program). Definitions of household for families with children Age of children: Children under the age of 22 who live with their parent or legal guardian must apply for SNAP with their parent or legal guardian. This is true even when these individuals have their own children and/or receive RI Works (cash assistance) separate from their parents or guardians. Foster children/guardianship: Households hosting foster children may include the child as part of their SNAP household and include the foster care subsidy or may choose to exclude the foster child which excludes the foster care subsidy as income. Custody arrangements: No one can be in more than one SNAP household as a benefit recipient. Children may be counted in the household of either parent, but if both parents are SNAP recipients, the children will be counted as part of the household where they eat the majority of their meals in a week. Child care costs can be deducted from the household s income. The full cost of child care programs paid by a SNAP household may be deducted. The deduction is available only during the hours care is necessary due to a household member being at work. Documentation of payment will be required. This expense can be proven with a receipt from the child care agency or a note from your child care provider. 10 SNAP recipients with disabilities who live on a fixed income will recertify every 2 years. Most of the time, households receiving SNAP benefits must fill out paperwork with DHS every six months to show they are still eligible. In households where all adult members are elderly or disabled, the Department of Human Services will assign this household a 24-month certification period. That means they will fill out paper work every two years instead of every six months. SNAP individuals with disabilities may be authorized to use the Restaurant Meals Program. Some individuals with disabilities may use their EBT card at select Subway restaurants. Call the URI SNAP Outreach Hotline, for more information about this program. 15

11 SNAP Facts for People with Disabilities The Department of Human Services (DHS) uses the term disabled to describe an individual who has been determined disabled by a government entity and receives payment for their disability (for example, SSI, SSDI, Veterans disability benefits). Most of the facts below apply if any member of the SNAP household is considered to be disabled. DHS will deduct a portion of the medical expenses of the disabled individual when determining eligibility. Applicants with disabilities may be able to have a portion of their medical expenses deducted from their income. This could increase the amount of SNAP benefit the household is able to receive. Medical expenses may include prescription costs, doctor co-pays, insurance premiums, transportation costs and medical equipment. Individuals living in group homes may be eligible for SNAP benefits. Disabled individuals who live in certain non-profit group living arrangements may be eligible for SNAP benefits. This may be true even though the group home prepares their meals for them. Services are available at DHS for clients who are blind or hearing impaired. All applicants have the right to bring anyone of their choosing to their interview for assistance. If an applicant does not have someone who can provide that assistance, DHS is required by law to provide an interpreter or offer accommodations. The request should be listed on the application but may also be made at any time before the interview. DHS is responsible to pay the cost of the assistance. 14 Child support paid or received may impact SNAP benefits. The money paid in court-ordered child support to a non-custodial child will be excluded from an applicant s income by DHS. The money received in child support payments is counted as income when determining SNAP eligibility, regardless of court order. Income of children may be counted by DHS. All unearned income will count as household income whether it is for an adult or child household member. Earned income of children, age 16 or older, counts as household income. SNAP Recipients are eligible for the free school breakfast and lunch program. All school aged children in SNAP households are eligible for free school breakfast and lunch. 11

12 SNAP Facts for Seniors The Department of Human Services (DHS) uses the term senior or elderly to describe an individual age 60 or older. DHS will deduct a portion of the medical expenses of the senior applicant when determining eligibility. Senior applicants may be able to have a portion of their medical expenses deducted from their income. This could increase the amount of SNAP benefit the household is able to receive. Medical expenses may include prescription costs, doctor co-pays, insurance premiums, transportation costs and medical equipment. Seniors can have a car, house or bank account and still be eligible for SNAP benefits. Most of the time, SNAP eligibility no longer requires a resource (asset) test. That means that the value of a car or house, life insurance policy, retirement account or education savings fund does not count when SNAP eligibility is determined. Seniors found eligible for SNAP who live on a fixed income may recertify every 2 years. Most of the time, households receiving SNAP benefits must fill out paperwork with DHS every six months to show they are still eligible. In households where all adult members are elderly or disabled, the Department of Human Services will assign this household a 24-month certification period. That means they will fill out paper work every two years instead of every six months. Senior SNAP recipients may still participate in other programs. Households can receive SNAP and still receive Meals on Wheels, utilize Senior Farmers Market Vouchers, eat at senior meal sites and go to food pantries. SNAP households may choose to make their congregate meal site donation with their SNAP benefits, although they are not required to do so. Seniors may be authorized to use the Restaurant Meals Program. Some seniors may use their EBT card at select Subway restaurants. Call the URI SNAP Outreach Hotline, for more information about this program