SNAP EBT cards are used to purchase everyday staples such as eggs.
In the United States, 35 states allow online application for SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, SNAP has eschewed food stamp coupons in favor of EBT, or electronic benefit transfer debit cards, which are preloaded every month with an amount of credit. SNAP EBT cards can be used at participating grocery stores, farmers' markets or convenience stores to help feed your household with nutritional, healthy, non-prepared foods.
Instructions
1. Determine your eligibility for SNAP online. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service website provides an online questionnaire to determine if you meet the federal requirements for SNAP, which are mandated at the state level. Applicants should have all income, asset and dependent or household information ready prior to starting the online pre-screening questionnaire. Items to have on hand include the monthly income of each household member, information pertaining to your household assets and resources, your rent or lease information, your household, healthcare or childcare bills, and the social security or disability benefits of all household members, if this is applicable to your household.
2. Visit the USDA's Nutrition and Food Services website to determine if your state provides an online application for SNAP. To find a list of all participating states, start at the homepage and click on "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" in the "Programs" section. On the subsequent page, click on "Learn Apply For Benefits" in the "Applicants and Recipients" section. Scroll down for a list of all states with online application availability.
3. Visit your local SNAP office website if you live in a state that provides online application for the program. To locate the website of your county's SNAP office, start at the USDA Food and Nutrition Services homepage and click on "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" in the "Programs" section. On the next page, click on "Learn Apply for Benefits," located in the "Applicants and Recipients" section. On the next page, click on the "locate SNAP office" link in the first sentence of the page, which will connect you to your county's local office website that provides directions for online application.
4. Apply online, in person or by mail, depending on your state's application procedure. As of October, 2010, 25 states have online application submission capability, although some restrictions apply at the county level in California, Texas, New York and Indiana.
5. Navigate to the online questionnaire; start at the USDA Food and Nutrition Service homepage. Click on "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" in the "Programs" section. On the next page, click on "Eligibility Requirements" in the "Applicants and Recipients" section. On the subsequent page, click on the "pre-screening tool" link in the second paragraph, which will take you directly to the online questionnaire.
Tags: online application, page click, Assistance Program, Nutrition Assistance, Nutrition Assistance Program