Food Assistance Program Guide

If you're hungry now:

• Call the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) in Spanish. The hotline operates Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time.
• Find a local food bank.
• Contact community or religious organizations.

What help is available?

If you have a low income, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as “food stamps,” is a federal nutrition program that can help you stretch your food budget.

Am I eligible?

To determine if you are eligible, you must meet certain requirements including resource and income limits.

How do I apply?

Find the online application for your state, local office addresses, and phone numbers. You may  also apply in person at a state or local office.

Is there anything else I need to know?

• You get benefits each month on a plastic electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, which you use like a credit or debit card to purchase eligible food items at your local authorized SNAP grocery stores and at some farmer's markets.
• Some states have websites set up for managing your benefits. If your state doesn't have an EBT management website, you can contact your state SNAP office to check your benefits.

How do I file a complaint?

If you need to file a complaint concerning your food stamps or attempt to get food stamps, the following resources can help:

• If you have questions about your benefit amount, contact your local field office to request a hearing.
• File a complaint online or by phone about a SNAP retailer. You will need to give the name and the location of the store. You may remain anonymous if you choose.
• If you suspect fraud or abuse of the SNAP program, contact your state's SNAP fraud hotline  or website.
• Learn how to file a complaint if you believe you have experienced discrimination in the SNAP program because of age, sex, color, race, disability, religious creed, national origin, limited English proficiency, or political beliefs.

For Retailers

If you are a retailer or farmers market trying to become authorized to accept SNAP benefits, follow these application steps.

This short-term program can help you get healthy food for yourself and your young children.

What help is available?

Many low-income women and young children can get healthy food to add to their diet. It's available through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). WIC also offers nutrition counseling and referrals to health, welfare, and social services.

Am I eligible?

• If you're applying for yourself, you must be at least one of the following:
  • Pregnant
  • Breastfeeding
  • Within six months of having given birth or pregnancy ending
• If you're applying for your children, they must be under five years old.
• You must meet other WIC eligibility requirements based on your income, your health, and where you live.

How do I apply?

Contact your state or local WIC agency for an appointment. When you call, someone will tell you where to apply and what to bring with you.

Who do I contact for extra help?

For more information, contact your state or local WIC agency or look on its website. You can also call its toll-free number.

Is there anything else I need to know?

If your agency doesn't have enough money to serve everyone who needs WIC, it will maintain a waiting list and use a priority system to decide who will get WIC benefits first.

These programs can help you get healthy food for your children at their school, childcare center, or after-school program:

What help is available?

Kids from qualified, low-income households can get healthy meals or milk at their school or childcare center through these programs:

• The National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, which provide free or reduced-price, nutritionally balanced meals on school days
• The Special Milk Program, which provides milk to kids at schools and childcare centers that don't offer the national school breakfast and lunch programs
• The Summer Food Service Program, which offers free, healthy breakfasts and lunches to kids over summer break

Am I eligible?

Your kids automatically qualify for free meals or milk if:

• You receive benefits from SNAP (food stamps), TANF (welfare),  or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
• They are foster children under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court
• They're enrolled in Head Start

Your kids may qualify for meals or milk if your household income is within the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. These guidelines are based on federal poverty guidelines.

• If your household income is no more than 130 percent of the poverty level, they should qualify for free meals.
• If your income is no more than 185 percent of the poverty level, they should qualify for reduced-price meals.

The summer food service program is open to all kids and teens 18 and under at locations around the country. Find a site near you

How do I apply?

At the beginning of the school year or at any time if circumstances change, submit an application from the school.

How do I complain/who do I contact for extra help?

Contact your local school or school district for more information.

What help is available?

Most states offer these food programs for low-income seniors:

• Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, which provides coupons for fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community farms.
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides a monthly package of nutritious foods (PDF, Download Adobe Reader).

Am I eligible?

Low-income seniors (age 60 and older) who live in an area that offers either of these programs may apply for the program(s) offered.

• Check the farmers' market program map (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) to see if your state offers this benefit. Find your maximum household income for participation.
• Check the supplemental food program fact sheet (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) to see if the program is authorized in your state. Find your household income limit (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) for participation.

How do I apply?

• For the farmers' market program, contact your state program office. If you get SNAP (food stamps) or Commodity Supplemental Food packages, contact that program's local office.
• For the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, call 1-866-348-6479 to find your state contact or find the food distribution contact closest to you.

Is there anything else I need to know?

You may qualify for other food assistance programs including SNAP (food stamps) and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. Check the program websites or contact your local senior community center to learn more.

You may be able to get short-term financial help for your family's food following a disaster. If the president authorizes individual disaster assistance for your area, you may qualify for D-SNAP (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)—disaster supplemental nutrition assistance. D-SNAP provides one month's worth of benefits on a debit-type card that you can use at most grocery stores. Once your state sets up a D-SNAP program, you'll have about a week to apply. If you qualify, you'll receive benefits within three days.

Following a disaster, you may lose work or face big expenses, like repairing your home. So even if your normal household income wouldn't qualify you for regular SNAP (food stamp) benefits, you may qualify for D-SNAP. If you already receive SNAP, you can apply for D-SNAP if the amount you'd receive is more than you get under SNAP.

Following a disaster, your children or your entire family may also be able to get free meals (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) through the school meals programs.