Do you qualify for SNAP Food Stamps?
In order to receive SNAP Food Stamps you need to apply, you can get started with how to apply on this website. You can also go to your local SNAP office to receive assistance with your application.
Determining your eligibility for this program will depend on many factors. These include your gross income, your resources and it will depend on the number of people in your household. Your residency and citizenship status will also determine qualification.
U.S. citizens are eligible, but many legal aliens qualify for SNAP Food Stamps too. Those members of a household that are eligible to receive benefits will not be affected by any members of your household that cannot receive benefits. If you would like additional information about immigrant SNAP eligibility please see this website.
Screening for SNAP Food Stamps
Some people would like to prescreen their eligibility prior to apply for SNAP benefits. There are a few ways to do this. Please note, pre-screening is NOT an application, you must separately apply to receive benefits. The USDA provides an online pre-screening tool to help determine if you are eligible for benefits. This tool will also give an estimate of the amount of benefit you may receive. You can access the USDA pre-screening tool here.
If you need assistance in using the USDA's pre-screening tool, a tutorial is available here.
Many states vary on food stamp eligibility criteria, and the only way to determine if you qualify is to find out your state's specific eligibility criteria. Please view the following 'Just the Facts' video about qualifying for SNAP Food Stamps.
Missouri Eligibility Requirements
To receive benefits through SNAP in state of Missouri, you'll need to meet certain eligibility requirements.
- You must be a resident of state of Missouri
- You must be a U.S citizen or a qualified alien
- Your household income should be below the maximum income limit for SNAP. The gross monthly income should be at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to apply.
- Your resources and assets should be within the SNAP limits
Income and resources eligibility
A household will have to meet income and resources related requirements in order to receive benefits through SNAP. Income limits for the program depend on the size of your household. For household size 1, the annual income limit is $14,160. For household of two, the limit is set at $19,128. The income limit will increase for households with more members.
Households looking to apply for SNAP benefits, will also have to make sure that they meet resources and assets related requirement. The families living with elderly or disabled can have assets up to $3000 but for households without such persons, the resources and assets should not be more than $2000. When computing resources, you will have to include money in bank accounts, cash, real estate, and any other resources that are not exempted for eligibility.
Although you can be pretty sure about your eligibility once you go through all the requirements and analyze your situation accordingly, you can never be 100% certain until you apply for the program. You will receive the final verdict on your eligibility after you apply and you have been interviewed for the program.
Nevertheless, you can click here for more information regarding eligibility requirements. The final decision for determining the eligibility lies with DSS.