Connecticut Food Stamps (SNAP) provides income support to residents of Connecticut so that they can buy food and meet their basic nutritional needs. The program is only available for families with low income and living in the state of Connecticut.

Eligible families will receive number of benefits through the program. However, families or individuals will have to meet certain eligibility requirements before they start receiving these benefits. In addition to general eligibility requirements, households will also have to meet financial requirements before they qualify for the program.

It's easy to get SNAP (Food Stamps) benefits. One has to apply at local DSS office but it is also possible to get an interview appointment through fax or mail. Applicants can apply for SNAP, Medicaid, and other state-funded programs through one application but they can also apply for SNAP only. Application forms are different for both the cases.

Once qualified for SNAP/Food Stamps program, candidates will get an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. They can use Food Stamps benefits through that card. These benefits can't be converted into cash and the EBT card only works with retailers authorized to sell food to SNAP beneficiaries.

SNAP benefits can be used anywhere across the state of Arkansas as long as the retailer accepts SNAP EBT customers. You can check retailers in your area through this link: SNAP Retailer Locator/.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to determine eligibility for Food Stamps (SNAP) program, applicants can use a screening tool here.

In order to qualify for SNAP benefits the applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Must be a U.S citizens or qualified aliens
• Must be a resident of Connecticut
• Must meet income and resource guidelines

Financial Eligibility

Households looking to receive Connecticut Food Stamps (SNAP) benefits will have to meet financial eligibility in addition to clearing standard eligibility requirements.

Households will have to meet the following gross and net income limits:

• Households must have less than $2,000 in assets to qualify for SNAP
• Household with a member who is at least 60 years old or disabled the asset limit is $3,250.
• The gross income limit is set at 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The gross income is total income of the household before tax or other deductions are computed.
• The net income limit is set at Federal Poverty Level (FPL)

The gross income limit applies to all the households in Connecticut looking to receive SNAP benefits. However, households with a person over 60 or disability don't have to meet gross income limitation. Nevertheless, these households will still have to meet net income limitation in order to receive Food Stamps benefits.

Households will also have to meet assets limits if gross income for the household is more than 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Such households can't have asset value above $3250.

Financial Eligibility

Applicants will also have to agree to participate in employment and training related activities. If applicants don't enroll for work and their age is between 18 and 50, they can only receive SNAP benefits for 3 months in three years period.

What is considered a 'Household' for SNAP?

SNAP defines a living unit as household if people are living together, preparing food together and buying food supplies together. In some cases, people living together can be counted as separate households. One such case is an elderly living with others where others have income below poverty level.

Food Stamps Application Instructions

To apply for SNAP Food Stamps program, applicants have the choice to:

Apply through your local DSS office

You can apply at your local Department of Social Services (DSS) office. If you can't visit local DSS office due to illness or disability, you can ask someone else to do the paperwork for you. You can find your local DSS office using this interactive map.

Apply by Mail or Fax

If you can't visit your local DSS office, you can apply through mail or fax. You will first have to download and complete the application form, which is used for applying to SNAP, Medicaid, and Home Care programs, all at the same time.

Download the application here: www.ct.gov/dss/lib/dss/PDFs/w-1f.pdf

If you're looking to apply for Food Stamps (SNAP) only, please download this application in either English or in Spanish

After you complete the application, send it to your local DSS office and wait for an eligibility worker to be assigned to your case. You will get a date for interview.

For more information on Food Stamps (SNAP), you can call: (800) 842-1508.