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.



South Dakota Eligibility Requirements

Before receiving SNAP benefits in South Dakota, you must meet SNAP's income limits. The requirement states that families must not exceed two sets of monthly income limits, gross and net. Gross income is the total of all income earned by the entire household, while net is the amount remaining after deductions. If your household includes any members who are disabled or over 60 years of age, you only need to meet the net income limit. Gross and net income limits are based on the recommended federal poverty guidelines. At present the gross monthly income should not exceed 130 % of the federal poverty level, and net income should not be more than 100 %.

A household cannot hold more than a certain amount of financial assets and still qualify for SNAP. Countable assets include stocks, bonds, cash at hand and in bank accounts, excess vehicles and real estate. As of now, the resource limit for SNAP is $2,000. However, this amount is raised to $3,000 for households with elderly or disabled members.

South Dakota mandates that healthy SNAP beneficiaries participate in work or school related activities in order to keep their benefits. You must participate in any one or a combination of the following activities as a condition of their SNAP eligibility:

  • Secondary Education
  • Job Search / Job Club / Job Readiness
  • Community Service
  • On-the-Job Training
  • Employment

Mandatory applicants requirements include:

  • Adults aged between 18 years and 59 years who are not receiving unemployment insurance or SSI
  • Working 30 hours or less per week
  • Must not be a parent or guardian to a child less than six years old
  • On-the-Job Training
  • Healthy

Exempted participants include:

  • Children below 18 years old
  • Adults above 60 years old

Parent/guardian of child below six years old

  • Unemployment insurance applicant or recipient
  • Persons working more than 30 hours per week at federal minimum wage
  • Caregiver of a person with disabilities
  • Persons with health issues that affects their ability to participate
  • Pregnant woman after their third month of pregnancy

South Dakota counties require non-exempt SNAP recipient's to take part in community service or engage in on-job training if they are not in already school or sufficiently employed.

Reporting Changes that Affect Eligibility

All SNAP participants must report any increase in their monthly gross income. Income brackets can be found on notices in your local agency or by calling your Benefits Specialist. The income increase must be reported by the 10th day of the month, following the month the income exceeds the maximum.

SNAP beneficiaries are required to complete a review process after every 12 months. Most recertification and report forms will be mailed to you. You may not be required to report any other changes, but they may choose to report changes such as:

  • Addition of a household member and their income
  • Increase in other household expenses, such as shelter costs, daycare costs, etc.