If you are looking for help on how to apply for food stamps in Idaho, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will review the step by step process for completing your Idaho food stamps application, including eligibility and what you need to successfully complete your application. This post will cover the following topics:
- Overview of the Food Stamps Program
- How Much You Could Receive In Food Stamps
- Idaho Food Stamps Eligibility Requirements
- How to Apply for Food Stamps in Idaho
- What to Expect After You Apply
About the Food Stamps Program
The Food Stamps Program also called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers help to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families living in the United States. The program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services.
Benefits are distributed by each state’s Division of Social Services or Children and Family Services. The food stamps program is the largest economic assistance program offered by the federal government to fight hunger. In 2016, the government spent $70.9 billion on the Food Stamps Program, helping roughly 44.2 million Americans (14% of the population).
Who Can Apply for Food Stamps
The Food Stamps Program was created to help fight hunger and improve the nutrition and health of those on a low income. The program helps people with limited money buy the food they need for good health. This includes individuals who:
- Are employed but have low income
- Are living on a small or fixed income
- Have lost their job
- Are retired or disabled and not able to work
How Much In Food Stamps Will I Receive?
If you are eligible for food stamps, how much you will receive primarily depends on the number of people in your household, your income, and resources. To see if your household size and income may qualify for food stamps, use the table below. The table shows the maximum income amount you can receive each month based on the number of people in your household.
What Can I Buy with Food Stamps?
Once you’ve been approved for food stamps, you may wonder what you can buy with your food stamp benefits. There are strict requirements about what you can and cannot purchase with food stamps. Generally, you are allowed to buy food you plan to take home and prepare.
You can use your benefits to buy foods such as:
- Bread and cereals
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meats, fish, and poultry
- Dairy products
- Seeds and plants to grow food
You cannot use your benefits to buy:
- Non Food items (pet foods, paper products, cleaning products, household supplies, grooming items, cosmetics, etc.)
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
- Food that is prepared and can be eaten in the store
- Hot, ready-to-eat food
- Vitamins and medicines
- Baby food, diapers, and other supplies
Idaho Food Stamps Program
The Idaho food stamps program is run by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW). The Idaho DHW is responsible for issuing benefit services aimed at helping families in crisis situations by providing food assistance. Benefits are distributed to food stamp recipients every month to the Idaho Quest card.
To find out what you need to successfully apply for food stamps in Idaho, keep reading our post below.
Idaho Food Stamp Eligibility Requirements
If you would like to apply for food stamps in Idaho, you must first meet the eligibility requirements. Of all the requirements, the income limit is the biggest factor that determines whether you are approved for benefits. Make sure you review the Idaho income limit to make sure you are eligible before applying.
If your income does not meet the limit, you will not be eligible for Idaho food stamp benefits. However, there may be other government or nutrition assistance programs you may be eligible for.
Here is the full list of Idaho food stamps eligibility requirements:
Residency
To receive Idaho food stamps, you must be a resident of the state of Idaho.
Citizenship
Only United States citizens and certain categories of lawfully admitted non-citizens can apply for food stamps. If you are a non-citizen, see our detailed article on the topic here.
Income
If your income (based on your household size) is less than or equal to the limit amount listed in the chart below, then you may be eligible for SNAP benefits.
To see if your income is eligible, you must calculate your household’s monthly total gross income AND total net income. Gross income is a household’s total, non-excluded income before any deductions have been made such as taxes or other withholdings. Net income is a household’s total gross income minus allowable deductions.
Allowable Deductions
The standard allowable deductions for food assistance benefits can include:
- Shelter costs
- Household size costs
- Childcare costs
- Medical expenses for the elderly or disabled
- Child support costs
The total monthly gross and net income limit for 2019 is shown in the table below:
What counts as Income?
One commonly asked question among food stamps applicants is what counts as income? Income is considered to be any money you earn from sources, including earned income (before payroll taxes are deducted) and unearned income, such as cash assistance, Social Security, unemployment insurance, and child support are all counted towards your income (for food stamps purposes).
Please note that:
- If your household’s gross income is below these amounts, it does not ensure that you will be eligible for benefits.
- A SNAP budget must be calculated for your household in order to determine eligibility and benefit amount.
- The only way to determine if your household is eligible for SNAP benefits is to complete an application for Idaho food stamps.
For a detailed post on how to calculate your monthly gross and net income, including the documents you’ll be required to present to support your food stamps application, check out our 2019 Food Stamps Income Limit article.
Resources
Households may have up to $2,250 in countable resources or $3,500 If a household member is age 60 or older, or is disabled. Countable resources include cash or money in a bank account.
What counts as Resources?
Countable resources are defined as any monetary source that can be available to the household to purchase food. This includes money in a bank account and cash savings. Items that are not accessible, such as the household’s home, personal property, and retirement savings, do not count. Also, most automobiles do not count as accessible resources.
How to Apply for Food Stamps in Idaho
Here are the three ways you can apply for Idaho food stamps:
1. Apply in Person
You can apply for Idaho food assistance by visiting your local Department of Health and Welfare office. To find the office near you, click here. Before you visit your local DHW office, be sure you have the following information with you. You will be asked to provide these items before you can submit your application for food assistance.
What to Expect After You Apply
When you apply for Idaho food assistance at your local office, you will be asked to complete an interview and verify your situation and information this a caseworker. After submitting your application and interview, you can expect to receive a notice in the mail stating what benefits and how much you qualify for, when to expect your benefits, and if they have everything they need to complete processing.
2. Apply by Mail
To apply for Idaho food stamps by mail, download, print and complete the Idaho Food Stamps Application and mail it to your local Idaho Department of Health and Welfare office. You can download the Idaho Food Stamps Application here. You can also call the Idaho DHW hotline at 1-877-456-1233 to have an application mailed to you.
Once your application is completed, you can mail it into your local DHW. To find your local Idaho DHW office mailing address, visit the Idaho SNAP Office Location Directory here. You can also drop off your completed food stamps application at your local DHW office.
4. Apply by Fax
You can apply for Idaho food stamps by faxing in your completed application to the Idaho DHW toll-free fax number at 1-866-434-8278. Be sure to fax in copies of your income, employment and expense verification information with your completed Idaho Food Stamps Application.
What to Expect After You Apply
When you apply for Idaho food assistance by mail or fax, you’ll be mailed an interview appointment letter once your application is processed. Your interview will be completed over the phone. You will be asked to verify your situation and information provided in the application during your interview. After your interview is completed, you will be mailed a notice informing you of what benefits you qualify for, how much you qualify for, and when you will receive them.
Idaho DHW Contact Information
For additional questions about the SNAP application process, you can call the Idaho DHW help hotline at the phone number below:
Help Hotline: 1-877-456-1233
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
You can also email case-specific questions to [email protected] or [email protected] for general non-specific case related questions or complaints.
How will I Receive Benefits?
If you are approved Idaho food assistance, your benefit amount will be deposited to your Idaho Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, also known as the Idaho QUEST Card on the same day each month.
The Idaho QUEST card is a plastic, debit-like card that can be used at point-of-sale (POS) terminals to purchase eligible food items. Your Idaho QUEST card will be mailed to you and have your name, card number, and the Idaho QUEST logo on it. Your QUEST card can be used to buy groceries and other food items at stores that accept food stamps.
How Long Will it Take to Receive Benefits?
If you are in a crisis situation and need food assistance immediately, benefits can be provided within seven days, if you are eligible. You must meet certain criteria in order to qualify for expedited food assistance services.
How Long Can I Be on Food Stamps?
There are no limits to how long you can get food stamps if you have children/dependents living in your household that are under the age of 18 or over the age 50. If you are a single, able-bodied adult receiving food stamps and do not have dependents in your home, you can only receive food stamps for 3 consecutive months in a 36-month period.
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We hope this post about applying for Idaho food assistance was helpful to you! If you have any additional questions about how to apply for food stamps in Idaho, please leave those in the comments section below. If you have complaints about your experience applying for the Idaho SNAP program, we would like to hear from you. Please let us know in the comments.