Qualify For Food Stamps In Pa

Apply For Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs

If you or someone you know is in need of longer-term food assistance, government-funded programs such as SNAP , WIC, school meals, and more are also available and can help to connect you with the food resources you need. Click the name of the program below to get more information.

SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP is a federal program that helps millions of low-income Americans put food on the table. Across the United States there are 9.5 million families with children on SNAP. It is the largest program working to fight hunger in America.

SNAP provides timely, targeted, and temporary benefits to people in need so that Americans have access to nutritious food. SNAP responds quickly to changes in our population, growing in response to increases in poverty and unemployment, and shrinking as the need is met and reduced. SNAP is administered by the states, which have considerable discretion to adapt the program to best meet the needs of their residents.

SNAP benefits are delivered monthly through electronic debit cards, which are used to purchase groceries at one of the more than 238,000 authorized retailers nationwide.

For more information about SNAP, visit:

• COMPASS: Access to Health and Human Services

For more information about the National School Lunch Program and the Breakfast Program, visit:

• Apply for Free and Reduced Price School Meals

For more information about WIC:

• Phone: 1-800-942-9467

For more information about TEFAP, visit:

Snap Resources And Income Limits

SNAP benefits require households to meet tests that measure resources and income. Some of these changed temporarily or were waived during the coronavirus pandemic, so check with your state to make sure what the current standards are. For the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, the requirements are:

How To Use The Pennsylvania Ebt Card

Once petitioners receive their SNAP acceptances, they may inquire, How long does it take to get a Pennsylvania EBT card? EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer, and this refers to the mode the DHS uses to distribute SNAP funds to enrollees each month. These stipends are seamlessly transferred onto beneficiaries Pennsylvania Access Cards, and enrollees may use these tools as they would any other debit card. The PA EBT card provides enrollees with a safe, reliable way to use their SNAP benefits.

Furthermore, the Pennsylvania EBT card gives enrollees more autonomy regarding how they access and utilize their funds. For example, the PA Access Card makes it easier for claimants to check their EBT card balance. In addition to seeing their remaining balances printed on their receipts, enrollees may also check their remaining totals online. This allows beneficiaries to remain in control and aware of how much they are spending each trip to the store.

Once claimants receive their PA Access Cards, they may think, What can I buy with my EBT card? In reality, petitioners are able to purchase items from any of the major food groups from stores that accept SNAP. Examples of these include:

Similarly, claimants may also use their EBT card in PA to purchase junk food and soft drinks. Examples of these items include candy, soda, snacks and chips. However, petitioners must remember that they are prohibited from using their SNAP benefits to buy the following items:

Also Check: Can You Buy Lactation Cookies With Food Stamps

How To Renew Your Food Stamps In Pennsylvania

Claimants who would like to continue receiving SNAP will need to complete a food stamps renewal in Pennsylvania. The DHS will alert petitioners when their claims are about to expire. It is imperative that enrollees renew food stamps online or using an alternative method before their expiration dates arrive. Failing to file a food stamps renewal application in time will result in claimants experiencing a lapse in payment. During the reenrollment process, beneficiaries may need to provide documentation relating to their incomes, assets and expenses. This is especially true if enrollees experienced any changes to their financial situations since they filed their last claims.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What income do you need to have in order to be eligible for food stamps in Pennsylvania?

Below are the maximum allowed monthly incomes in order to qualify for food stamp benefits in the State of Pennsylvania. The amount of members in your household directly relates to the maximum allowed incomes. Maximum income levels get higher as the number of household members increases.

1 $1,608

Am I Qualified Or Not Pa Ebt Eligibility Requirements

The concept of PA Access card is fairly easy to grasp but eligibility criteria can be quite complicated. More so since policies of the program also change over time and rules vary from one state to another. For example, food stamps PA program may be different from the say EBT policies of Virginia.

Likewise, eligibility requirements from the WIC program PA also vary from the food stamp PA program.

The state needs to know the following when households apply for food stamps PA:

Household Size- This is the number of people the applicant lives with and shares food with.

Household Income- This is the total income of the entire household. Household income refers to earned income and unearned income. Earned income refers to the money household members make from their employment while unearned income pertains to funds from Social Security, cash grants, child support, and unemployment income, to name a few.

The member of the household that you will declare are those individuals who you make food with and live with. However, sometimes, the individuals living in ones home may not be counted as such. For example, adult children or tenants could be living in the same house but they procure and make their own food.

Recommended Reading: Can You Use Ebt For Meijer Delivery

What Can I Buy With Pennsylvania Ebt Benefits

Your Pennsylvania ACCESS EBT card works like a debit card. You can use this card to buy food at most grocery stores.

At the checkout counter, swipe the card and enter a 4-digit PIN number to use your SNAP/food stamps to buy food.

You can buy any food product available at participating grocery stores .

You can locate stores that accept Pennsylvania SNAP benefits online at Snap Retailer Locator.

Additionally, you can use your SNAP benefits at participating PA farmers markets and healthy corner stores.

Some farmers markets accept Food Bucks coupons which doubles your SNAP dollars and enables you to buy nutritious fresh food through the Fresh Access and Fresh Corners programs.

Heres what you can buy with Pennsylvania SNAP EBT:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages and
• Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat.

You CANNOT use Pennsylvania SNAP EBT benefits to buy:

• Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
• Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase.
• Live animals .
• Prepared Foods fit for immediate consumption
• Hot foods
• Any nonfood items such as: Pet foods Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies. Hygiene items, cosmetics

What Can I Buy With Pennsylvania Food Stamps

Your Pennsylvania ACCESS EBT card works like a debit card. You can use this card to buy food at most grocery stores.

At the checkout counter, swipe the card and enter a 4-digit PIN number to use your SNAP/food stamps to buy food.

You can buy any food product available at participating grocery stores .

You can locate stores that accept Pennsylvania SNAP benefits online at Snap Retailer Locator.

Additionally, you can use your SNAP benefits at participating PA farmers markets and healthy corner stores.

Some farmers markets accept Food Bucks coupons which doubles your SNAP dollars and enables you to buy nutritious fresh food through the Fresh Access and Fresh Corners programs.

Heres what you can buy with Pennsylvania SNAP EBT:

• Fruits and vegetables

There are three ways to check your Pennsylvania ACCESS Card balance.

Option 1 Via Phone

Option 2 Online

• You can check the balance online here.

Option 3 Using the Last Transaction Receipt.

• You can also check the balance by locating your Last Receipt

Also Check: Pedialyte Ebt

Definition Of A Household

When determining eligibility, you need to provide information on all members of the household. A household, for this situation, is defined as all individuals that live together and purchase and prepare meals together. Likewise, you may have people living with you that are not considered part of your household. For example, if you rent a room to someone that does not purchase or prepare food with you, they are not part of your household. However, whatever they pay you for rent has to be counted under income.

There are two exceptions to this definition. The first is a household that includes a husband, wife, and children under 22 years of age. This group will be considered a household even if they purchase and prepare meals separately. The second exception is elderly or disabled individuals that are unable to purchase and prepare their meals independently and live with others that do.

Do I Have To Renew Enrolment In Ebt Food Stamps Pa Short Answer Yes

SNAP is not a continuous program that lasts for many years. This means that beneficiaries of Pennsylvania food stamps will have to reapply before their certification period ends.

The certification period or PA food stamp schedule refers to the duration that the beneficiary receives food stamps.

For most EBT card PA, the certification period is 24 months if the household includes an elderly or disabled member. In the absence of either disabled or elderly household members, then the period is for one year or 12 months.

Beneficiaries will get a letter via email reminding them to reapply for the program based on their PA food stamps schedule start date. One can renew the benefits via EBT PA login.

Those who prefer to renew in person can do so by calling either the local office such as the Perry county food stamp office if youre from the area. One can all call the caseworker or the EBT customer service PA hotline.

You May Like: Check My Food Stamp Balance Ga

How To Apply For Snap Benefits In The State Of Pa

If you are unsure of whether or not you will meet the qualifications, your best option is to apply. This can be done by dropping your application into an office dropbox, submitting it online, or meeting with a person at your county assistance office.

In addition to the SNAP program, your worker will be able to advise you of other services including cash assistance, medical assistance, home heating benefits, child care assistance, school meals, and family planning services.

Prior to going into the office, you will want to for benefits. By filling this out in advance it will save you time and give you insight into what documentation and information are necessary.

In addition to the standard application, there is also a simple application that applies to people where everyone in the household has a disability or is over 60 years of age and does not receive an income from employment. If you meet any of these qualifications you may want to review the SNAP for Older Adults page.

It can take up to 30 days for you to receive a determination on your application. Once you submit your application, you may check the status of your application, view benefit information, report changes, search for child care, and more using your COMPASS account.

How To Apply For Snap

In Pennsylvania, you may apply for SNAP by using the COMPASS website, or by completing a paper form that can be mailed to the county assistance office. To obtain a paper form, contact the Allegheny County Assistance Office Headquarters at 565-2146. They will also be able to inform you of the closest assistance office to your home within Allegheny County.

Depending on individual circumstance and available information, you may be asked to schedule an appointment with a county caseworker to discuss your eligibility and to verify your identity.

Don’t Miss: How To Get Food Stamps In Ga

Income Limits Effective: October 1 2020

The Minimum Benefit is $16

*Maximum gross monthly income is not used for computing the SNAP benefit. It is included in this table as a reference for determining eligibility for a household not containing an elderly or disabled member. Also, it is not applicable for categorically eligible households.

The maximum net monthly income limitations per household size represent maximum net monthly income for all SNAP households except those that are categorically eligible.

The 165% poverty level income table is used in determining separate household status for a person who is 60 years old or older and living with others and the spouse of this person who is unable to purchase and prepare meals because he or she suffers from a disability considered permanent under the Social Security Act or suffers from a non-disease-related, severe, permanent disability.

Income Limits Effective: October 1 2018

The Minimum Benefit is $15

*Maximum gross monthly income is not used for computing the SNAP benefit. It is included in this table as a reference for determining eligibility for a household not containing an elderly or disabled member. Also, it is not applicable for categorically eligible households.

The maximum net monthly income limitations per household size represent maximum net monthly income for all SNAP households except those that are categorically eligible.

The 165% poverty level income table is used in determining separate household status for a person who is 60 years old or older and living with others and the spouse of this person who is unable to purchase and prepare meals because he or she suffers from a disability considered permanent under the Social Security Act or suffers from a non-disease-related, severe, permanent disability.

Also Check: Compass Ga Food Stamp Application

When Are Ebt Benefits Deposited

In the state of Pennsylvania, the DHS distributes SNAP and TANF benefits to those who qualify.

Food Stamps and Cash Assistance Benefits are deposited on EBT Cards over the first 10 days of every month.

When your food stamps benefit is deposited on your EBT Card depends on the last digit of your case number and your county of residence.

Counties may have one, two, or ten payment-day cycles.

Both cash and SNAP benefits are posted to EBT accounts between midnight and 6 a.m. each day.

After 6 a.m. no additional benefits are added to EBT accounts.

If you are expecting a benefit that is not posted to your account as of 6 a.m. call the PA EBT hotline back the next day.

Here is the schedule of payment based on the last digit of your case number and county of residence: