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.
Rhode Island Eligibility Requirements
It's easy to qualify for SNAP (Food Stamps) benefits for low-income households in Rhode Island. Households will have to meet the following eligibility guidelines to participate in Rhode Island SNAP Food Stamps.
- Be a U.S citizen or a qualified alien
- Be a resident of Rhode Island
- Must have income and resources below the income limits set by SNAP
Resource Eligibility
Households will have to meet the following resources eligibility:
- Households with an elderly or disabled person: Such households can have up to $3,000 in resources
- All other households: Such households will can only have up to $2,000 in resources
Income Eligibility
Households with income below 185% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) will qualify for SNAP benefits if they meet other program requirements.
Here is an income chart according to the number of people in the household. It will help you determine quickly whether you meet income guidelines for Rhode Island SNAP (Food Stamps) or not:
| Household Size | Gross Annual Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $14,079/td> |
| 2 | $18,941 |
| 3 | $23,803 |
| 4 | $28,665 |
| 5 | $33,527 |
| 6 | $38,389 |
| 7 | $43,251 |
| 8 | $48,113 |
For a household with members exceeding eight, you can add $4,862 for each additional member of the household to compute gross annual income for SNAP Food Stamps.
You can use pre-screening tool to determine your eligibility for the Food Stamps program in Rhode Island. Please use this link for the tool.