Mickey Leland Childhood Hunger Relief Act
- eliminating the shelter deduction cap beginning January 1, 1997
- providing a deduction for legally binding child support payments made to nonhousehold members
- raising the cap on the dependent care deduction from $160 to $200 for children under 2 years old and $175 for all other dependents
- improving employment and training dependent care reimbursements
- increasing the FMV test for vehicles to $4,550 on September 1, 1994 and $4,600 on October 1, 1995, then annually adjusting the value from $5,000 on October 1, 1996
- mandating asset accumulation demonstration projects and
- simplifying the household definition.
Learn About West Virginia Food Stamps
The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program , formerly known as food stamps in West Virginia, helps low-income families gain access to healthy foods. The SNAP program is federally funded but operates at the state level by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources . Recipients receive an electronic benefits transfer card that contains a monthly allowance. This money must be used only for purchasing foods at participating grocery and convenience stores.
To qualify for SNAP food stamps in West Virginia, there are several eligibility requirements that you must meet. Income and state residency are two of the most important determinants. Once you review the qualifications, you can submit your application and wait to hear back from a program caseworker. To learn more about the program, review the sections below.
What Counts As Income
Cash income from all sources, including earned income and unearned income, such as cash assistance, Social Security, unemployment insurance, and child support are all counted towards your income for food stamps purposes.
Households with an elderly or disabled person are given special consideration, including higher asset limit, are exempted from the gross income test, and are allowed and more excess shelter/utility cost deduction, and medical expenses over $35 per month.
4. Resources
Households may have $2,250 in countable resources or $3,500 in countable resources if at least one member of the household is age 60 or older, or is disabled.
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Food Security And Insecurity
While SNAP participants and other low-income nonparticipants spend similar amounts on food spending, SNAP participants tend to still experience greater food insecurity than nonparticipants. This is believed to be a reflection of the welfare of individuals who take the time to apply for SNAP benefits rather than the shortcomings of SNAP. Households facing the greatest hardships are the most likely to bear the burden of applying for program benefits. Therefore, SNAP participants tend to be, on average, less food secure than other low-income nonparticipants.
Self-selection by more food-needy households into SNAP makes it difficult to observe positive effects on food security from survey data, but data such as average income can be compared. Statistical models that control for this suggest that SNAP receipt reduces the likelihood of being food insecure and very food insecure by roughly 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively.
What Are The Snap Income Guidelines In Virginia
The Virginia food stamp income guidelines require that you meet requirements for net and gross income. Gross income is the amount you earn before taxes, while net income is the amount you have left over after taxes and deductions are taken out.
The income requirements for food stamps may be a little different if you live in a household with a senior or a person with a disability. In most cases, you can qualify just by meeting the net income requirements.
Under the SNAP guidelines, you must count income from nearly every source. This can include both earned and unearned income. For example, you must count income from all of the following sources:
- Wages from employment.
- Money you earn from other services.
- Money you receive from a pension.
- Unemployment money or workers compensation.
- Benefits you receive from other government programs such as Veterans Affairs benefits or Supplemental Security Income .
The SNAP income guidelines 2019 allow you to take certain deductions, which may make it easier to qualify. Many households qualify for a standard deduction, which is based on the number of people in the home. In many cases, you may also be able to take a deduction for the following things:
- A percentage of your earned income.
- The cost of child care that you pay.
- Outgoing child support payments that you legally owe.
- Medical expenses that exceed a certain amount and are not covered by insurance.
- A portion of your rent and utility expenses, if they exceed a certain amount.
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What Happens After You Apply
After you apply for food stamps in West Virginia, you must complete an interview with a representative of the Department of Health and Human Resources .
The interview will be done by phone unless you request your interview in-person at a local DHHR office.
During the interview, the program representative will verify your documents and will ask you questions that will help establish your eligibility for the program.
If your application is approved, you will start receiving benefits within 30 days after you submitted your application.
What Documents Do I Need For The Application
For your application, you will need information about your income, social security number, any benefits you may be receiving, the social security numbers and birthdays of the people living in your household, and proof of your identification and residence. If there is anyone in your household who is receiving benefits such as disability, you will also have to provide this information during the application process or at the interview.
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Cell phones and service may be available FREE in your area!
Plant a garden! You can buy seeds and produce-bearing plants with your EBT card! Its actually part of the federal food stamps law.
Student loan payments could be as low as ZERO dollars per month with an income based repayment plan!
Summer food services offer free meals for children 18 and under during the summer months when free and low-cost school meals arent available.
Who Qualifies For P
P-EBT eligibility is connected to participation in the National School Lunch Program, free or reduced-price school meal status, and the days a student was remotely or virtually attending school.
Congress connected P-EBT with schools that are participating in the National School Lunch Program. All public schools in West Virginia participate in NSLP as well as select private schools.
Most public schools in West Virginia are located in an area of high need, and therefore, they participate in another program called the Community Eligibility Provision . CEP is applicable to public school districts only and does not apply to private schools. Please for more information.
Please view this flow chart for a quick resource on whether or not your child may be eligible for P-EBT:
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West Virginia Snap Benefits Approval Rules Proofs Required
The DHHR has to verify the provided information and interview you before determining if the household is eligible for SNAP Benefits.
Here is a list of what the DHHR may require you to bring to the interview:
- Identity
Additional information and proof may be required depending upon your situation.
Applicants for SNAP benefits in West Virginia should get a response within 30 days from the date they submitted their application to the DHHR office. When start getting food stamps benefits, households must report any changes of their situation in a set period of time in order to assure their participation in the West Virginia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Under the simplified reporting option, households are required to report changes in income between certification and scheduled reporting periods when total countable income rises above 130% of the poverty level or when work hours change for ablebodied adults without dependents.
SNAP regulations require all nonexempt household members to comply with work requirements. Work requirements include registering for work, not voluntarily quitting a job, and accepting a suitable employment offer. As per federal SNAP guidelines, individuals who fail to comply with SNAP work requirements without good cause are ineligible for program benefits and disqualified from SNAP for certain periods of time, depending on how many prior instances of noncompliance there have been.
Temporary Benefits Increase From April 2009 To November 2013
SNAP benefits temporarily increased with the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 , a federal stimulus package to help Americans affected by the Great Recession of 2007. Beginning in April 2009 and continuing through the expansion’s expiration on November 1, 2013, the ARRA appropriated $45.2 billion to increase monthly benefit levels to an average of $133. This amounted to a 13.6 percent funding increase for SNAP recipients.
This temporary expansion expired on November 1, 2013, resulting in a relative benefit decrease for SNAP households on average, benefits decreased by 5 percent. According to a Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report, the maximum monthly benefit for a family of four dropped from $668 to $632, while the maximum monthly benefit for an individual dropped from $200 to $189.
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West Virginia Food Stamp Eligibility Requirements
To apply for food stamps in West Virginia, you have to meet the eligibility requirements listed below.
Of all the requirements, the income limit is the biggest factor that determines whether you are approved for benefits.
Make sure you review the income limit to be sure you are eligible before applying. If you determine that you are not eligible, there may be other nutrition assistance program you may be eligible for.
1. Residency
To apply for food stamps in West Virginia, you must be a resident of the state ofWest Virginia.
2. Citizenship
Only United States Citizens and certain categories of lawfully admitted non-citizens can apply for food stamps. See our detailed article on the topic here.
3. Income
If your income is less than or equal to the amounts in the charts below, you may be eligible for SNAP benefits.
Gross income means a households total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made such as taxes or other withholdings.
Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions.
Note that:
- If your households gross income is below these amounts, it does not ensure that you will be eligible for a benefit.
- A SNAP budget must be calculated for your household in order to determine eligibility and benefit amount.
- The only way to determine if your household is eligible for SNAP benefits is to apply.
For a detailed post on how to calculate your gross and net income, and documents you will be required to resent to support your food stamps application, .
When Do I Need To Update The Case Worker
If any changes to your situation occur, such as changing jobs, finding a job, gaining more salary or income, or if you find that you no longer need to use the food stamp program any longer, then you should update your case worker as soon as possible. You can notify the case worker of these changes through fax, phone, or in person at a local department.
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Food Pantries In West Virginia
Food pantries offer food directly to people that need it and who have the means to cook it. They usually receive food from local food banks and in turn distribute it to low-income individuals and households at no cost.
Food pantries are typically located in facilities where received food can be stored and handled in a safe and sanitary manner.
Each food pantry serves a designated local area and most of them require prior registration and approval before food can be distributed to a particular individual or a family.
Get Discounted Admission With Your Wv Food Stamps Card
Please note that the museums with green titlesare Museums for All participants. These venues accept EBT cards from all 50 states, so you dont have to be a West Virginia resident to get these great deals!
It is important to remember that you cannot pay for admission with your EBT card. You will show the EBT card to receive the discount but you will need to pay the remaining admission price, if any, in cash or with a credit/debit card.
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Applying For West Virginia Food Stamp Programs
How do I apply for food stamps in West Virginia?
There are 5 government food-related benefits that you may apply for as a resident of West Virginia.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – better known as the WIC program – provides supplemental foods, nutrition education and referrals to health care and other social services, at no cost, to 1) pregnant, breas…
How And Where To Use The Snap Benefits
When approved, West Virginia SNAP beneficiaries will get Electronic Benefits Transfer cards The Access Card. The monetary benefits of the West Virginia SNAP are transferred into the accounts of qualified beneficiaries and are accessible through West Virginia EBT Cards. Households and individuals can use their EBT cards and spend the benefits like cash at any West Virginia grocery stores and farmers markets that are authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture to accept SNAP benefits.
Check this list of West Virginia SNAP participating stores that are authorized to take EBT cards for purchasing of SNAP-eligible food items. Eligible food items are any food to be eaten at home by people, including baby food, non-alcoholic beverages, and seasonings. Seeds and plants to grow food for your own familys consumption are also allowed to be purchased with food stamp benefits. You cannot buy non-grocery items with food stamp benefits, such as cleaning products, pet food, paper products, alcohol, or tobacco.
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How To Apply For Food Stamps In West Virginia
When deciding how to apply for food stamps in West Virginia, petitioners should choose the process that is most convenient for them. For example, claimants who prefer to apply for enrollment in person may visit their local DHHR offices and apply onsite. Alternatively, petitioners who want to obtain their applications quickly but fill them out at home may download these forms from the states website. Afterward, claimants who intend to apply for food assistance using this method may mail or fax these forms to their local DHHR offices.
Petitioners may also submit an online food stamps application to the state department, if they prefer to complete the entire process electronically. This option is particularly appealing to applicants who want the DHHR to receive their petitions instantaneously. Claimants may elect to apply for food stamps online by using either a private or public computer. Applicants should be able to rent these devices at county libraries throughout their communities. Petitioners do not need to submit applications that are thoroughly completed to the DHHR at this time. During the applicants program interviews, SNAP case workers will obtain the information candidates did not submit during their first-round applications.
