In today’s post, we will explain the step-by-step process on how to apply for food stamps Delaware online. Food stamps are apart of the Food Supplement Program that enables low-income families to buy a variety of food that promotes better nutrition and health. Food stamp benefits are administered electronically to a Delaware Food First card, also known as an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, each month.
For help on how to apply for Delaware food stamps online, continue reading below.
How to Apply for Food Stamps Delaware Online
For help applying for food assistance benefits in Delaware, follow the steps listed below.
Step 1: Determine your Eligibility
The first step when applying for food stamps in Delaware is to determine if you are eligible for benefits. Eligibility for the Delaware ASSIST Food Stamps Program is based on a variety of factors such as income, expenses, and household members.
Among the eligibility criteria, the income requirement is the most important. You have to meet both the gross income requirement and the net income requirement in order to be approved. The income requirements are based on the number of people that live in your household.
The maximum gross monthly income limit for most individuals applying for food stamp benefits is set at 130% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
In most cases, your household must meet both the gross and net income limits or you will not be eligible for benefits.
For your convenience, we’ve provided the income guidelines to qualify for Delaware SNAP benefits below.
Delaware Food Stamps Income Limit for 2023
To see if your total household income meets the limit for 2023, use the chart below:
| Delaware SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2023 | ||
| Effective October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 | ||
| Household Size | Monthly Gross Income (130% of FPL) | Monthly Net Income (100% of FPL) |
| 1 | $1,473 | $1,133 |
| 2 | $1,984 | $1,526 |
| 3 | $2,495 | $1,920 |
| 4 | $3,007 | $2,313 |
| 5 | $3,518 | $2,706 |
| 6 | $4,029 | $3,100 |
| 7 | $4,541 | $3,493 |
| 8 | $5,052 | $3,886 |
| Each Additional Household Member: Add | $512 | $394 |
How do I calculate net income?
To calculate your net income, you have to take your gross income and deduct the allowable deductions indicated below.
If you meet both the gross and net income requirements, then you should get approved for benefits. This is the most important of the requirement to receive SNAP.
SNAP Allowable Deductions
The following is a list of allowable deductions when calculating your total household net income.
The following deductions are allowed for SNAP:
- A 20-percent deduction from earned income.
- A standard deduction of $193 for household sizes of 1 to 4 people.
- A dependent care deduction when needed for work, training, or education.
- Medical expenses for elderly or disabled members that are more than $35 for the month if they are not paid by insurance or someone else. This is described on the elderly and disabled page.
- Legally owed child support payments.
- A standard shelter deduction for homeless households of $166.81.
- Excess shelter costs as described below.
Excess Shelter Costs
For help determining your excess shelter deduction, please refer to the information below.
The shelter deduction is for shelter costs that are more than half of the household’s income after other deductions.
Allowable shelter costs include:
Fuel to heat and cook with, electricity, water, basic fee for one telephone, rent or mortgage payments and interest, and taxes on the home.
Once you have calculated your allowable deductions, you can use the example below to calculate your total household net income.
| Net Income Calculation: | Example for a 4-person household: |
|---|---|
| Subtract 20% earned income deduction… | $2,050 gross income $1,500 earned income x 20% = $300. $2,050 – $300 = $1,750 |
| Subtract standard deduction… | $1,750 – $193 standard deduction for a 4-person household = $1,557 |
| Subtract dependent care deduction… | $1,557 – $362 dependent care = $1,195 |
| Subtract child support deduction… | $0 |
| Subtract medical costs over $35 for elderly and disabled… | $0 |
| Excess shelter deduction… | See below |
| Determine half of adjusted income… | $1,195 adjusted income/2 = $597.50 (rounded up to $598) |
| Determine if shelter costs are more than half of adjusted income… | $700 total shelter – $598 (half of income) = $102 excess shelter cost |
| Subtract excess amount, but not more than the limit, from adjusted income… | $1,195 – $102 = $1,093 net monthly income |
| Apply the net income test… | Since $1,093 is less than $2,313 allowed for a 4-person household, this household has met the income test. |
Before going through the application process, it is important to determine whether or not you qualify to receive food stamp benefits.
Delaware ASSIST provides a pre-screening program that will determine if you are eligible to receive these food stamp benefits.
To see if you qualify, access the Delaware ASSIST Screening Tool.
Step 2: Apply for Delaware Food Stamps
Once you have determined your eligibility for Delaware Food Stamps, you can now apply for benefits. To apply for Food Stamps in Delaware online, use the Delaware ASSIST online benefits portal.
To complete an online application, visit the Delaware ASSIST webpage. Once on the website, click the “Apply for Benefits” button located on the right-side of the page.
After that, you can go ahead and begin the application process for Delaware food stamps.
For help, please refer to the screenshot below:
If you are interested in applying for food stamp benefits, but cannot do so online, you must fax, mail or bring the completed application to your local Department of Human Resources office. Click here to print out a paper Delaware SNAP Application.
Step 3: Schedule an Interview
Once your application has received, you will be invited to complete an interview at your local Department of Human Resources office.
When setting up the interview, you will be provided with a list of requested documents.
Make sure to bring all the requested documents to your interview to complete the verification process.
At the interview, you will review your DE SNAP Application including information regarding the financial situation of your household.
Step 4: Receive your Delaware Food First EBT Card
Congratulations! If you’ve made it to this step, that means you’ve been approved for the Delaware ASSIST Food Stamps Program.
You will be issued a Delaware Food First EBT Card. This is a debit-like card administered to all approved SNAP applicants.
Your Delaware EBT Card will arrive in the mail via USPS First Class Mail.
Once you receive your EBT Card, you can begin using it in-store and redeem your SNAP benefits on approved food items.
How much will I receive in Delaware Food Stamps?
The amount you can expect to receive in Delaware food stamps varies based on a number of factors including household size. Use the chart below to find out the maximum amount of SNAP benefits you can expect to receive each month:
| Maximum SNAP Benefit Amount by Household Size for Delaware | |
| Effective October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 | |
| Household Size | Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment |
| 1 | $281 |
| 2 | $516 |
| 3 | $740 |
| 4 | $939 |
| 5 | $1,116 |
| 6 | $1,339 |
| 7 | $1,480 |
| 8 | $1,691 |
| Each Additional Household Member Add: | $211 |
Delaware Food Stamps Application Summary
We hope you found this article on how to apply for Food Stamps in Delaware was helpful!
If so, we encourage you to share this article with anyone who may also find it helpful by using the “Share this” button below.
If you have additional questions about the Delaware SNAP Application process or DE Food First EBT Card, please leave those in the comments section below. We are here to help!
Be sure to check out our other articles about Delaware Food Stamps and EBT, including:
- How to Check Delaware EBT Card Balance
- Delaware EBT Card Discounts & Free Admissions
- Delaware Food Stamps Office Near Me
- Grocery Stores that Accept EBT online
- How to Get 50% off Amazon Prime with EBT
- Eligible Food Stamps Items