New York Snap Certification Period
Households approved for SNAP benefits in New York are assigned a certification period.
The certification period is the length of time your household will receive benefits.
In some cases, a certification period may end early if there is a change in circumstances that makes the household ineligible .
Most SNAP households will receive a 12-month certification period.
SNAP households in which all members are elderly and/or disabled will receive a 24-month certification period if there is no earned income.
Throughout the certification period, households are required to report specific changes.
If the household wishes to continue receiving SNAP at the end of the certification period, the household will need to complete the recertification process.
Are My Child/children Eligible For P
Children who receive free school lunches through the National School Lunch Program are eligible for P-EBT food benefits if their school has been operating with reduced in-person attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-21 school year.
In the state of New York, this includes children who attend Community Eligibility Provision schools and any private, prekindergarten, parochial, and charter schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program.
You do not need to apply for P-EBT food benefits. P-EBT food benefits will automatically be issued to eligible children.
How Long Before The Snap Benefits Office Make Its Decision
The food stamp office must make a decision on your application within 30 days of the date you submit it.
They will usually issue SNAP benefits going back to the date of your application.
However, if you or someone in your household causes a delay, your application can be held open another 30 days.
In this case, you will not get back benefits. If you delay completing the application for more than 60 days, your application can be denied.
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Calculating Net Income With Allowable Deductions
Step 1
Subtract any Allowable Deductions
After you have determined which allowable deductions apply to your household, subtract those from your total gross monthly income. Doing this will give you the total net monthly income for your household.
If you need additional help doing this, use the example below:
| Determine if shelter costs are more than half of adjusted income | $700 total shelter $605 = $95 excess shelter cost |
| Subtract excess amount, but not more than the limit, from adjusted income | $1,210 $95 = $1,115 net monthly income |
| Apply the net income test | Since $1,115 is less than $2,146 allowed for 4-person household, this household has met the income test. |
Step 2
Determine if your Net Monthly Income is Eligible
Now that you have your net monthly income, you can see if your income is eligible for New York food stamp benefits. Use the chart and follow the steps below to determine your eligibility.
| Household size |
Note: The allotments described here are for households in New York.
Check out the example for a SNAP benefit calculation below:
Learn The Requirements For Senior Food Stamps Renewals
A food stamps renewal application must be submitted by a seniors household each time SNAP benefits are due to expire. Failing to renew food stamps on time may lead to the household losing its food assistance. Beneficiaries will receive a letter indicating how long they will receive SNAP after they are approved for participation. It is important to understand that food stamps recertification periods vary based on a variety of factors. Some seniors may be eligible for a longer certification period than others, depending on household circumstances. The frequency of food stamps renewals for seniors usually depends on whether the household is comprised entirely of seniors, or if the household also contains people who are younger than 60 years of age. In general, households in which all the members are elderly or disabled can receive food assistance for a longer period of time before recertification is required. Read our guide to senior assistance for more information on when SNAP renewals occur for senior households.
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How To Apply For Snap In Person
Food stamp office agents can help residents better understand certain questions, calculate expenses or income values and many other aspects of the application process.
Additionally, the agent can verify that the application is completed fully and accurately.
Submitting an application in person gives residents the opportunity to complete the mandatory food stamp interview on the same day.
This helps save applicants from having to make another trip to a SNAP office.
While submitting online may be easy and convenient, in-person submission has the benefit of being able to speak with a food stamp representative face-to-face.
However, before a resident can receive their food stamp benefits, their submitted information must be verified by a SNAP agent.
Note: SNAP applications can usually also be submitted by fax to a local food stamp office.
Frac And Aarp Data Analysis Reveals That Millions Of Households With Seniors Rely On Snap To Stave Off Hunger
One in 10 households with seniors participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , on average each year between 20122016. This is according to U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed in interactive tools released by the Food Research & Action Center , in collaboration with AARP Foundation.
Food Research and Action Center has created these first-of-their-kind interactive maps and accompanying tables that show the share of all households with seniors that participated in SNAP nationally, in each state, and among the nations 3,142 counties.
These interactive tools allow local, state, and national policymakers, program administrators, advocates, media, social service providers and others to better understand the role of SNAP in helping millions of struggling seniors afford enough food to eat in communities across NYS and nationwide.
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Can My Snap Interview Be Done Over The Phone
Yes, anyone can be interviewed over the phone.
If you apply in person, you will be scheduled for a phone interview
Once you have submitted your SNAP application to DSS, a worker from the SNAP office will call you for an interview.
If you are available, they will conduct the interview immediately over the phone.
However, if you cannot be reached immediately, a letter will be sent to you scheduling you for a phone interview with a date andtime.
Can Someone Apply For Me
Yes. If you have a physical or mental hardship, and are disabled, New York allows you to have someone you designate submit your SNAP application on your behalf.
You may also authorize someone who knows your household circumstances to apply for SNAP benefits for you.
If you would like to authorize someone, print the persons name, address and phone number on the signature page of your SNAP benefits application.
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Learn More About The Wic Program
Your agency may not have enough money to serve everyone who needs WIC. In that case, it will maintain a waiting list and use a priority system to decide who will get WIC benefits first.
For more information and help applying, contact your state or local WIC agency. You can also call its toll-free number.
Summer Food Service Program
SFSP was created to reduce the likelihood of nutritional risk for low income children during the months when schools are closed for summer recess by providing free meals at participating summer meal sites such as schools, parks, pools, recreation centers, camps, housing authorities and other neighborhood locations. Through SFSP, schools, governments and nonprofit organizations receive Federal and State funds to continue a child’s physical and social development by providing meals during the summer with the number of meals and dates varying by site.
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Snap Program Provides Nyc Seniors With Monthly Food Benefits But The Program Is Underutilized
Content powered by New York for Seniors
Hunger among the nations seniors is a growing concern. Yet the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is under-utilized by older persons. Formerly known as Food Stamps, SNAP provides monthly benefits for low-income people of all ages to buy groceries of their choice at participating food stores and farmers markets.
Nationwide, senior citizens have a lower sign-up rate for SNAP benefits than any other age group. Only a third of eligible seniors take part in the program according to data from the National Council on Aging. In NYC, less than half of eligible seniors receive help from SNAP. As many as 500.000 older New Yorkers go hungry each month for lack of money to buy groceries, despite the existence of a safety net program that could put food on their tables.
There are a number of reasons why seniors dont apply for SNAP, according to an AARP Foundation report. It appears that many eligible seniors dont even know that the program exists. Among those who know about it, some are too embarrassed or too proud to apply, while others think that if they receive SNAP they will take food benefits away from others, especially children. The misperception that the application process is too difficult also contributes to its under-utilization.
Public Health Solutions
Learn How To Apply To State Food Programs For Seniors
To apply for either program:
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Select your state or territory from this nutrition programs contact map.
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From the list of available programs, choose a food program for seniors:
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Commodity Supplemental Food Program
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Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
If either program is not on the list, you may not live in an area that offers the program.
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Food Stamps And Meal Programs During The Covid
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be easier for you and your family to get food stamps and take part in meal programs. Contact your state’s social services agency to see if you’re eligible.
During the pandemic:
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Food stamp recipients may receive additional funding. More people may be eligible to receive SNAP during the pandemic than normally.
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Parents whose kids’ schools are closed can pick up school meals for their kids to eat at home.
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People can enroll in food programs remotely rather than in person. This applies to programs for pregnant women, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
How To Renew Food Assistance Benefits
A food stamps renewal notification will be sent when it is time for your household to verify if they still meet SNAP eligibility requirements. Upon receiving a SNAP renewal notice, you will need to take action in order to continue receiving your benefits. In most states, you will need to visit your local public assistance office in order to complete a recertification interview process, similar to the first interview for SNAP benefits. However, you may be able to start the food stamps recertification process ahead of time by filling out an application before your meeting. Some states allow you to complete a food assistance renewal form online, which may make the recertification process go more quickly. Renewal applications will usually include the same information as your initial application for benefits. In fact, some states even use the same form for both your first application and your renewal. Be prepared to provide information on:
- Every source of income you have.
- Household expenses.
- Resources such as cash and bank accounts.
- Any changes to your household members.
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Learn About The Methods For Turning In A Food Stamps Application
Many state offices allow seniors to apply for food stamps online, over the phone, through the mail or in person. However, the food stamps application methods will change based on where seniors live. Many states allow applicants to submit a form online, but others may ask applicants to fill out a paper form. If you dont know how to apply for food stamps online, make sure you visit the state governments website.
Online food stamps applications generally need you to create an account, so as to return to your unfinished application and check the status of your form. Most states will also give applications to print at home or pick up in person at a benefits office. A paper copy of a senior food stamp application can be returned in the mail or dropped off at a local public assistance office.
Seniors who choose to apply for food stamps benefits in person may be able to have their SNAP interview during the same visit, depending on the capabilities of the office at that time. Learn more about what happens after a senior applies for food stamps by downloading our guide to senior benefits.
Preparing For The New York Food Stamps Interview
The New York food stamps interview is a useful tool for both the petitioners and the OTDA. On one hand, claimants can use these conversations with office representatives to finish any portions of their applications that they could not complete on their own. Conversely, the OTDA can use the NY SNAP interview to ask claimants additional questions in order to establish if they legitimately qualify for program benefits. In some cases when petitioners file in person, their SNAP interviews may take place the same day. However, other circumstances require petitioners to visit the office at later dates.
Regardless, petitioners wondering, What do you need for the food stamps interview? need to remember that their primary obligation is to validate any claims they make in their applications. This means that claimants who say they make a certain amount of money need to be able to prove that their reports are accurate. The questions asked during the food stamps interview will relate to information such as this. As a result, claimants who ask, What do you bring to a food stamp interview? should know that they need to prepare any written proof of the facts they provided on their initial petitions.
In many cases, state representatives will contact petitioners when it is time for them to schedule and complete their NY food stamps interview. However, there are some counties throughout the state where applicants can reach out to the DSS directly in order to schedule their assessments.
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Learn About The Food Stamp Interview
There is one final step to complete after residents submit their SNAP application. They must undergo an interview with a food stamp representative.
After submitting their documents, applicants are contacted by a SNAP food assistance agent to schedule an interview.
Depending on the agency, residents may be able to complete the interview by telephone or face-to-face at a SNAP office.
During the interview, the representative will first verify the applicants information. The information provided in the application must be consistent with the residents answers during the interview.
The interviewer may also ask additional questions to resolve any inconsistencies.
After residents submit their paper or online SNAP application, they may then be asked by their representative to supply additional documents.
These documents may be requested in order to verify certain information on the application. This information can include income, expenses and identity claims.
After application submission and interview completion, residents will find out if they are accepted into the SNAP food assistance program.
A letter of acceptance or denial will be mailed to applicants.
