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FOOD STAMPS

What are Food Stamps?

The Food Stamp Program provides monthly benefits that help low income households buy the food they need for good health. You may qualify for food stamps if you:

Work for low wages

Are unemployed or work part time

Receive welfare or other assistance payments

Are elderly or disabled, and live on a small income

How do I find out where to apply for Food Stamps?

Call our toll free number at 1-800-834-7121, or see our TulareWORKs (pdf) listing for an office near your location.

What can Food Stamp benefits be used to purchase?

Food Stamp benefits can be used to purchase:

Foods for human consumption

Seeds and plants to grow food for household use

Is there anything I can't purchase with Food Stamp benefits?

Food Stamp benefits cannot be used to purchase:

Any non-food item such as pet food, soaps, paper products, household supplies, grooming items or cosmetics

Alcoholic beverages or tobacco products

Vitamins and medicines

Any food that will be eaten in the store

Any food marketed to be heated in the store

Who can receive Food Stamp benefits?

You may be eligible to receive Food Stamp benefits, whether or not you work, if you have a low income.

What is the amount of Food Stamp benefits I will receive?

The amount of Food Stamp benefits a low-income person or family can receive is based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Thrifty Food Plan (pdf). The plan estimates how much it costs to provide a household with nutritious, low-cost meals. The estimates are revised every year to keep pace with changes in food prices. If your household meets the programs eligibility tests, the amount of Food Stamps you receive will also depend on the number of people in your household and on the amount of monthly income left after certain deductions are subtracted. For most households, Food Stamps are only part of their food budgets; they must spend some of their own cash along with their Food Stamps in order to buy enough food for a month.

How soon can I get my Food Stamps after I apply?

If you qualify for Food Stamp, you will get them no later than 30 days from the date the office received the application. If your household has little or no money and needs help right away, let the Food Stamp office know, because you may be able to get Food Stamps within 5 days.

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What is the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)?

CFAP is a state-funded Food Stamp Program for legal permanent non-citizens residing in the U.S., and who are determined ineligible for Federal Food Stamp benefits solely due to their immigration status.

Where do I go to apply for Food Stamp benefits?

Low-income Tulare County residents may apply for Food Stamps at the Tulare County District Offices.

If I am receiving SSI/SSP, can I also receive Food Stamp benefits?

If you are receiving SSI/SSP, you cannot receive Food Stamp benefits in California. However, your family may be eligible to receive Food Stamp benefits.

What if I'm also applying for CalWORKs?

If you are applying for public assistance such as California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), you may apply for Food Stamps at the same time.

What happens after I apply?

After you have turned in your application, a worker will hold a private interview with you or another member of your household.

At the interview, the worker will explain the program rules and help you complete any parts of the application that you have not filled out. The worker will also ask you for proof of certain information you have provided. Ask the worker to explain anything you don't understand.

What if I can't get to the office for an interview?

Most interviews are held at the Food Stamp office. If no one in your house can go to the office for the interview, an adult friend or relative who knows your circumstances may go to be interviewed.

If you are age 60 or older, or disabled and you cannot find someone to go to the Food Stamp office for you, let the office know. A worker will arrange to interview you at home or by telephone. Other people who cannot get to the office and who have no one to go for them may qualify for a home or telephone interview too.

What are some of the basic eligibility rules?

Listed below are some of the basic eligibility rules and the kinds of proof you may need during your interview. Your case may be processed faster if you bring the proof with you to the interview.

If you have trouble finding the documents you need, the worker will help you. If the documents are not available, you may give the name of someone, such as your employer, who can confirm your statements.

Citizenship - U.S. citizens, legally permanent aliens, and certain other legal aliens may qualify. If members of your household are not U.S. citizens, you will have to provide proof of their alien status from the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Members whose citizenship is in question cannot qualify for Food Stamps until proof is obtained that they are U.S. citizens.

Social Security numbers - You will have to provide a Social Security number for every household member, including children. If any household member does not have a Social Security number, he or she will have to apply for one. If you are otherwise eligible for Food Stamps, you can receive them for a limited time while you are waiting for your Social Security number.

Work roles - With certain exceptions, able-bodied people between 16 and 60 years of age must register for work, accept an offer of suitable work, and participate in an employment and training program as required by the State.

Students - Many college students are not eligible to receive Food Stamps. However, able-bodied students between the ages of 18 and 60 who are enrolled in college at least half time may be eligible if they:

Receive California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)

Work at least 20 hours a week

Participate in an on-the-job training program

Participate in a Federal work-study program during the school year

Care for a dependent under the age of 6

Care for a dependent between the ages of 6 and 12 when adequate child care is not available

Study through a program under the Job Training Partnership Act

Persons on strike - Households with persons who are on strike because of a labor dispute are not eligible unless they were eligible the day before the strike and continue to be eligible at the time of application. Eligible households cannot receive a higher allotment because of a decrease in the income of the striking member.

Resources - Under Food Stamp rules, some resources are counted and some are not. The worker will explain which are counted. Part of the value of most vehicles is counted as a resource.

Some resources that will not be counted are:

Your home and surrounding lot

Household goods and personal belongings

Life insurance policies

Examples of resources that will be counted are:

Cash and money in checking and savings accounts

Stocks and bonds

Land and buildings, other than the home and lot, that do not produce income

Income - Under Food Stamp rules, almost all types of income are counted. Only households with income at or below certain limits will qualify for Food Stamps. You must provide proof of all household members. Examples of proof include latest pay stubs or a statement from your employer; benefits letters from Social Security, Veteran's Administration, unemployment compensation, or pensions.

Deductions - After adding all your household's countable income, the worker will subtract certain deductions. The total must fall below certain limits, depending on your household's size, for your household to be eligible for Food Stamps. The following deductions are allowed for all households:

A standard deduction

A 20-percent deduction from the income you earn

A deduction for the actual cost of dependent care and a portion of high shelter expenses. There is a maximum on the amount of each of these expenses that may be deducted.

Households with members who are disabled or age 60 or older may qualify for a deduction for medical costs that are incurred by people who are disabled, or age 60 or older. These costs are deductible only if they are not covered by insurance, a government program, or some other source.

Households with elderly or disabled members can also deduct a portion of the high shelter costs without being subject to the limit that apples to other households.

How do I know if I qualified?

After your interview, the Food Stamp office will send you a notice.

If you do not qualify for Food Stamps, the notice will tell you why.

If you do qualify for Food Stamps, the notice will explain how many Food Stamps you will get. It will also tell you how many months you can get Food Stamps before you must reapply.

If the office finds that you are eligible, you will get your Food Stamps no later than 30 days from the date you applied, unless you qualify for faster service. Food Stamps in this County will be mailed to the participant.

How do I use the Food Stamps?

You can spend Food Stamps like cash at most stores that sell food. The cashier may require you to show Food Stamp I.D. Food Stamps may only be used for food items, and for plants and seeds to grow food for your household to eat.
Sales tax cannot be charged on eligible items purchased with Food Stamps.

Where can I look for more information on Food Stamps?