The Food Stamp Program is available to all eligible households regardless of race, sex, religious creed, national origin, or political beliefs. To get food stamps, households must meet certain tests, including resource and income tests. One per household, and Vehicles used for work, training, or education to prepare for work, or to seek work in accordance with the food stamp employment and training requirements. Will produce insignificant monetary return to the household, if sold. Most households must meet both the gross and net income tests, but a household with an elderly person or a person who is receiving certain types of disability payments only has to meet the net income test.
Gross income means a household's total, nonexcluded income, before any deductions have been made.
Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions. Allowable costs include the cost of fuel to heat and cook with, electricity, water, the basic fee for one telephone, rent or mortgage payments and taxes on the home. The amount of benefits the household receives is called an allotment. This is because food stamp households are expected to spend about 30 percent of their resources on food. If a household is determined eligible, the household s benefits will be provided back to the date of application.