All information given to the Department is confidential and any use or disclosure will be made only for certain limited purposes allowed under State or Federal laws and regulations. Such purposes include, but are not limited to, establishing eligibility, determining benefit amount and providing services to applicants and recipients. The amount of food stamps a household actually receives depends on the number of people in the food stamp household and the amount of their net income. See table below for the maximum food stamp allotments by household size. The head of household, spouse, or other responsible household member may designate an authorized representative to act on behalf of the household.
Some households have to report their household situation quarterly on a quarterly report form.
These households have to report on a quarterly basis regardless of whether there have been any changes in their situation. Households not required to quarterly report must report changes in their household situation within 10 days of the date the change becomes known to the household. A household not satisfied with agency action affecting its participation in the Food Stamp Program has the right to request a fair hearing within 90 days of the action being appealed. The household's case may be presented by a household member or a representative, such as a legal counsel, a relative, a friend or other spokesperson. Free legal counsel may be available through Legal Services Corporation of Alabama.