North Dakota Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - formerly known as Food Stamps is a program that assists people living in North Dakota with incomes below federal poverty level pay for nutritious food. The program does not go by the name Food Stamps anymore due to the simple reason that you do not get stamps to buy food. You get a debit card instead! However, SNAP does not pay for the entire foodstuff that a household may require on a daily basis, just some of it.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is in-charge of SNAP federal funding. To qualify for the program, potential beneficiaries must enroll to the program and meet certain eligibility regulations that have been laid down at state and federal levels. More details about the program and eligibility requirements on can be read or obtained from http://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/financialhelp/foodstamps.html, the official SNAP website courtesy of North Dakota Department of Human Services.

In the past, food stamps beneficiaries used to receive cash that was distributed by the government, today all states use the EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) system to transfer SNAP funds to beneficiaries. SNAP participants are able to purchase food using a card that functions like a debit card. EBT cards can be used in all states in the US at specific stores that accept SNAP benefits. It is advisable to first apply for an EBT card at your local state agency office for access to the EBT card. The EBT card cannot be used to withdraw cash.

SNAP benefits are deposited every month in your EBT account for you to buy food at stores that accept SNAP EBT cards. The benefits received from the SNAP program are purely based on the family size, current income and assets. SNAP beneficiaries are only eligible to buy foods or seeds to grow their own food by shopping at SNAP authorized stores. Groceries can be bought using the EBT card; however, there are some items that are not authorized to be purchased. Such items include prepared hot food ready for consumption or nonfood items such as alcohol, personal effects, cigarettes, paper commodities, pet food, medication and household supplies.

Different family settings including single adults and seniors are eligible for SNAP too. It all depends on both your income and certain expenses. It does not matter how long a family has lived in North Dakota.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to benefit from this program, you must be a resident of the state of North Dakota and fall into one of two categories listed below:

• Individuals operating a current bank account (savings and checking combined) reading below $2,001 in balance
• Individuals operating a current bank account (savings and checking combined) below $3,001 in balance and share their household with a senior(s) aged 60 years and above, or with a person with special needs.

For both groups, you must fall within the following income guidelines:

Household Size	Annual Income
1	$14,079
2	$18,941
3	$23,803
4	$28,665
5	$33,527
6	$38,389
7	$43,251
8	$48,113

For larger families, an additional $4,862 is included for each person in the home. Apart from meeting the above financial guidelines, your eligibility is further determined by meeting other strict conditions such as citizenship, income and household size.

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have an acceptable immigration status
• Applicants must be residents of North Dakota.
• Must have a Social Security Number or proof of application if the number is pending
• If less than 18 years of age, above 49 years of age, have been a lawful U.S. resident for more than 5 years, or are a refugee, you do NOT need a Social Security Number to apply.
• Household resources or assets must be less than $2,000 ($3,250 for households that include a member aged 60 years or above or a disabled household member). Households in which all members are receiving TANF, tribal TANF, or SSI are not subject to asset limit.
• Households must have a gross monthly income at or below 130% of the Federal poverty level.
• Adults residing in the household must meet work requirements as outlined by the program.

Once approved to receive the benefits, an approval letter is received in the mail along with an EBT card. Benefits are received electronically each month on a particular date. The amount and date are indicated in the approval letter. Questions regarding food assistance should be directed to your local county social service agency, click here to find your local service agency.

After submitting an application, some households may get help within a minimum of seven days. This however depends on different household circumstances. Most families start receiving their benefits within a month from the date of application. Changes in gross monthly income must be reported to the county social services office by the 10th day of the following month. Details on this are explained during the one on one interview that follows soon after application. A recertification must be completed every six months.

Undocumented immigrants do not qualify to receive SNAP. But if some people in your family are eligible to receive SNAP while others do not; an application is only made for only those people who qualify. If you are undocumented, but your children were born in the U.S., you can receive SNAP on behalf of your children. The county social services worker cannot tell USCIS (INS) about you or other people living with you. You do not have to disclose to the county social services worker about the immigration status of people that you are not applying for, but you must disclose the number of people living with you and their income.

Food Stamps Application Instructions

Online SNAP Application

Click here to begin an online SNAP application on the Department of Human Services for North Dakota website. You will need to provide some basic information about yourself during the application process. This includes:

• Your full name and address
• Contact details
• Social security numbers for you and others in your household
• Your gross income and liquid resource information( recent pay stubs/bank statements detailing your cash flow and assets

The above information is important because it helps determine your eligibility. After your application, a one on one interview will be conducted that will further determine your status. You may need to provide more documentation or show proof of identity, depending on what your case worker may see fit.

Walk In / Mail In Application

There are also application forms to download and print available on Department of Human Services (DHS) website, which you may then mail, fax or deliver personally to your local county social service agency after filling them out carefully. The application forms are detailed comprising of 16 pages. After you turn in your application, you will have to do an interview with a county social services worker. You will be asked about everyone who lives with you, their income, and about household expenses. The interview may not be conducted on the same day. If you cannot be available to attend an interview, you can send a trusted person to sit in for you, alternatively you can request to be interviewed on phone.