Gross Net

 People in Monthly Monthly

 Household Income* Income*

 1 $ 1,009 $ 776

 2 1,354 1,041

 3 1,698 1,306

 4 2,043 1,571

 5 2,387 1,836

 6 2,732 2,101

 7 3,076 2,366

*Amounts are higher in Alaska and Hawaii.

What is the Food Stamp 

Program?

The Food Stamp Program helps 

people with little or no income 

buy nutritious food. Food stamp 

benefits are not cash. They 

come on a plastic card that you 

use like a bank card to buy food. 

Most grocery stores take food 

stamp benefits.

Can I get food stamp benefits?

To get food stamp benefits, your income and your 

other resources have to be under certain limits.

• Income: Your total income, before taxes or any 

other subtractions, is called gross income. However, the program allows certain subtractions, 

called deductions. These can be things like 

housing costs, child support, medical expenses 

(for elderly or disabled people), or child-care 

costs. The amount left over after these deductions is called net income. 

 Most households must meet both gross and net 

income limits. If your household has a person 

who is 60 or older or who is disabled, you only 

need to meet the net income limit. If everyone 

in your household receives SSI or TANF, you do 

not need to meet any of the income limits.

 Look at the table below to find out what the 

gross and net income limits are for food stamp 

benefits. The numbers in this table are good 

from October 1, 2004 to September 30, 2005.

• Call or go to the local food stamp office for 

an application. You can ask them to mail you 

the application. 

• Fill out the application as much as you can. 

Put your name and street address on the 

form and sign it. 

• Return the application to the local office.

• Have an interview. You can do your interview 

over the phone. Or you can have a friend or 

relative go to the interview in your place. 

• Show the local office papers like pay stubs, 

rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, child or 

elder care bills, and child support court orders 

and cancelled checks. Ask the local office what 

papers and other information you will need.

After reviewing your application, the local office 

worker will tell you if you qualify and how much 

you will receive.

How do I find my local office?

If you need help finding your local food stamp 

office, call 1-800-221-5689. This Web page can also 

help you find your local office: http://www.fns.

usda.gov/fsp/outreach/coalition/map.htm

Do I need a social security number?

Yes, you must get a social security number if you 

want food stamp benefits. Not all people in the 

household have to join the program. People in the 

household who do not want food stamp benefits 

do not have to give their social security number. 

But they do have to give their financial information.

• Resources: Your resources are things like 

bank accounts. To qualify for food stamp benefits, your household may have up to $2,000 in 

resources. If your household has a person who 

is aged 60 or older or who is disabled, you may 

have up to $3,000 in resources.

 Resources that don’t count are your home, a 

vehicle used to carry a physically disabled member of your household, the fair market value of 

one vehicle (up to $4,650), and the resources of 

people who receive TANF or SSI.

One way to see if you might be able to get food 

stamps is to go to www.foodstamps-step1.usda.

gov on the internet. Answer the questions. If it 

looks like you might be eligible, you can also find 

out how much you could receive. But to find out 

for sure, you must apply. 

How do I apply for food stamp benefits?

If you think might be eligible for food stamp 

benefits and want to apply, you need to:
Can I get food stamp benefits if I am not working?

Yes, but if you are able to work, you must look for 

work, take a job, or go to training.

Can legal non-citizens get food stamp benefits?

Maybe. Ask your food stamp worker. Even if you 

can’t get benefits, household members born in this 

country can. Getting food stamp benefits won’t 

hurt you if you want to become a citizen.

If I am eligible, how much can I get?

Look at the table below to see the most you can 

get if you have no income. As your income goes 

up, your food stamp benefits go down. The numbers in this table are good from October 1, 2004 to 

September 30, 2005.

Where can I get more information?

Call your local food stamp office. 

Or call 1-800-221-5689.

Or visit www.fns.usda.gov/fsp

How do food stamp benefits help me eat healthier?

Food stamp benefits help stretch your dollars at 

the grocery store so you and your family can eat 

a variety of healthy foods, such as grains (especially 

whole grains), fruits, and vegetables every day. 

Good foods can help you and your family 

stay healthy. 

Food Stamps Make 

America Stronger.

Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy 

prohibit discriminating on the basis of race, color, national 

origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office 

of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 

(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and 

employer.

United States Department of Agriculture

Food and Nutrition Service

FNS-313

Revised September 2004

Food 

Stamps 

Make 

America 

Stronger.

Food 

Stamps 

Make 

America 

Stronger.

 People in Maximum Monthly 

 Household Allotment*

 1 $ 149

 2 274

 3 393

 4 499

 5 592

 6 711

 7 786

*Amounts are higher in Alaska and Hawaii.