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How to Apply for Food Stamps in Indiana Online

If you are looking for help on how to apply for food stamps in Indiana, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will review the step-by-step process for completing your Indiana food stamps application, including eligibility and what you need to successfully complete your application. This post will provide information on the following topics:

  • Overview of the Food Stamps Program
  • How Much You Could Receive In Food Stamps
  • Indiana Food Stamps Eligibility Requirements
  • How to Apply for Food Stamps in Indiana
  • What Happens After You Apply

Apply for Food Stamps in Indiana

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 to 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 for 2019.

How much food stamps will I get in Indiana?

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 food 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

Indiana Food Stamps Program

The Indiana food stamps program is run by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA). The Indiana FSSA Division of Family Resources (DFR) is responsible for establishing eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and delivering food stamp benefits. The DFR also provides employment and training services to food stamps recipients to encourage self-sufficiency and personal responsibility.

To find out what you need to successfully apply for food stamps in Indiana, keep reading our post below.

Indiana Food Stamp Eligibility Requirements

If you would like to apply for food stamps in Indiana, you must first meet the eligibility requirements. Of all the requirements, the income limit is the biggest factor that determines whether or not you are approved for benefits. Make sure you review the Indiana income limit to make sure you are eligible before applying.

If your income does not meet the limit, you will not be eligible for Indiana food stamp benefits. If you are not eligible, there may be other government or nutrition assistance programs you can qualify for.

Here is the full list of Indiana food stamps eligibility requirements:

1. Residency

To receive Indiana food stamps, you must be a resident of the state of Indiana.

2. 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.

3. 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:

Indiana Food Stamps Income Limit

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 Indiana 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 Indiana

Indiana EBT Card

Here are the four ways you can apply for Indiana food stamps:

1. Apply Online

You can apply for Indiana food assistance online by visiting the FSSA Divison of Family Resources Benefits Portal. To access the Indiana Benefits Portal go to this website: https://www.fssabenefits.in.gov/CitizenPortal/application.do. Click the “Apply Online” button to begin your online food stamps application.

2. Apply by Mail

To apply for Indiana food stamps by mail, visit the FSSA Divison of Family Resources Benefits Portal and click the “Print an Application for SNAP” link located at the top of the page. To download the application, fill out a few pieces of information then the application will be downloaded for you.

You can also request to have an application mailed to you by visiting the FSSA Divison of Family Resources Benefits Portal and click the “Mail Application” link located at the top of the screen. 

Once you have printed or received your application, fill it out and mail your completed application to your local DFR office. To find the DFR office near you, click here.

3. Apply by Fax

You can also apply for Indiana food stamp benefits by faxing in your completed application to your local DFR office. To find out the fax number for your local Indiana DFR office, visit the County Office page here. Be sure to fax in copies of your income, employment and expense verification information with your completed Indiana Food Stamps Application.

4. Apply In Person

The last way you can apply for Indiana Food Stamps is by visiting your local FSSA Office. To find the FSSA office in your county, click here. Before you visit, be sure you have income and eligibility verification information with you. You will not be able to submit your application without proof of income, residence, and expenses.

What to Expect After You Apply

After you apply for Indiana food assistance benefits online, by mail, by fax or at your local office, you will be asked to complete an interview. The interview for food stamp benefits will be conducted over the phone or in-person by your DFR caseworker. You will be asked to verify your situation and information provided in the application during your interview.

Once the interview has been completed, you can expect to receive a notice in the mail stating if you qualify for benefits, what benefits you qualify for, how much you will receive and when you will receive them.

Indiana DHW Contact Information

For additional questions about the SNAP application process, you can call the Indiana DFR help hotline at the phone number below:

Help Hotline (Toll-Free): 1-800-403-0864

Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

How will I Receive Benefits?

If you are approved Indiana food assistance, your benefit amount will be deposited to your Indiana Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card on the same day each month.

The Indiana EBT card is a plastic, debit-like card that can be used at point-of-sale (POS) terminals to purchase eligible food items. Your Indiana EBT card will be mailed to you and have your name, card number, and the Indiana EBT logo on it. Your EBT 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 of 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 Indiana food assistance was helpful to you! If you have any additional questions about how to apply for food stamps in Indiana, please leave those in the comments section below. If you have complaints about your experience applying for the Indiana SNAP program, we would like to hear from you. Please let us know in the comments.

Apply for Food Stamps in Indiana Summary

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For additional questions about the Indiana SNAP or EBT, please leave those in the comments section below. We are here to help you!

Be sure to check out our other articles about Indiana Food Stamps and EBT, including:

Carrie Brenner

Carrie is a lead writer and editor for Food Stamps Now. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Salisbury University. Carrie specializes in content creation, website development, graphic design, SEO and content strategy for Food Stamps Now. She is passionate about helping low income Americans access the resources and information to improve their quality of life.

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