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.



Arizona Eligibility Requirements

Food stamps or rather SNAP is readily available to residents of Arizona who meet the income requirements set forth by the state and by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (AZ DES). It used to be only applicable to single mothers and large low-income families but this is not the case anymore. Single men and women and people with a slightly higher income who may require a bit of support during hard times also qualify. Unemployed people must meet certain job-seeking and reporting requirements to be eligible long-term.

Income Requirements

Arizona SNAP eligibility is greatly determined by a strict income requirements test and number of people living in your household. These tests take into consideration both the gross monthly income and net monthly income. The gross is considered 130 percent of poverty and the net, 100 percent of poverty. For example a single family household can gross up to $1,174.00 per month with a net of $903 and still be eligible to receive food stamps. A family of six making $3,200.00 per month with a net of $2,461.00 will receive almost three times the amount in food stamp benefits. However, people living with disabilities and the elderly do not follow this category, they have special requirements.

Items that can be bought with Food Stamps

Among the items that you will be able to buy with food stamps include wheat germ, sunflower seeds, brewer's yeast, and fortified foods which include diabetic food, infant foods, ice label which is suitable for human consumption. Available also are items that can be used to preserve food. They include; spices and herbs, lard and pectin. Shortening; this are meals which are prepared and delivered to elderly and handicapped. Food Stamp participants; they include snack foods such as candy , potatoes, tortilla, soft drinks, chips , soft drinks, chewing gum .

There are other items which you may not be allowed to purchase alongside food stamps, they include; alcoholic beverages, non food items that include soap, paper, cooking utensils, cleaning products , items that are used for gardening such as peat moss, fertilizer , and other items not meant for human consumption and which includes dog and cat food birds seeds which are packaged, decorative dye that may be used for coloring , eggs that are hard cooked, vitamins, health aids, aspirin, syrups, cough drops minerals , antacids, cold remedies and all prescription medicines.