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.



Ohio Eligibility Requirements

You can easily determine your SNAP eligibility using pre-screening tool available at United States Department of Agriculture's Food and & Nutrition's Service (FNS) SNAP website: www.snap-step1.usda.gov. The pre-screening tool will helps you to determine your eligibility for the program before you actually apply for it. However, the online tool will not give a final verdict on your eligibility in any way. It provides a mere idea about your eligibility for the program.

In order to use the pre-screening tool, you will have to collect certain information such as your day care expenses, rent or mortgage that you are liable, utility bills, child support, financial resources and assets, and you earned income. You will have to provide this information during the online session while checking your eligibility using pre-screening tool.

In order to qualify for SNAP benefits in Ohio, you will have to meet different requirements, including financial requirements.

  • Resources/assets eligibility: Your household resources should be below $2,000 including bank accounts, real estate, and other valuable assets. If a person of 60 years of age or above is living in the household, then the household with resources up to $3250 can qualify for the program.
  • Income eligibility: Majority of households will have to meet gross as well as net income requirements in order to receive SNAP benefits. However, household with all members receiving TANF, SSI etc income support, will automatically qualify the income requirements. A household with an elderly person who receives disability payments does not have to meet gross income guidelines. It will only need to meet net income requirements to receive SNAP benefits. You will also be allowed certain deductions such as 20% standard deduction on earned income, dependent care deduction, payments received for child support, certain deductions for homeless households, and any other deductions that FNS decides to allow. To calculate your net income, you can subtract all the allowable deductions from gross income. To compare your income to gross monthly income limit or net monthly income limit for SNAP program, you can check out the chart at FNS website Here.
  • Citizenship and immigration eligibility: To receive SNAP benefits in the state of Ohio, you will have to be a U.S citizen or a legal immigrant. You must have lived in the country for five years or you are receiving disability assistance. In the later case, the entry date will not be considered for determining your alien status. Similarly, children will not have to pass five-year residence rule. For more information on immigration rules, you can read SNAP Guidance on Non-Citizen Eligibility Here
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  • Elderly or disable: For elderly or disabled, some special SNAP rules apply to households with such persons. These special rules amend resources and income limits for such households in addition to providing a few additional allowable deductions. Households with such persons can call SNAP hotline to learn about benefits and eligibility for it. Click Here for the elderly or disabled hotline contact information.