Website Main Menu

State of Montana
Food Stamp Program Overview

October 2007

Congress passed the Food Stamp Act of 1977 in order to provide eligible households an opportunity to obtain a more nutritious diet by supplementing their food budget. Income, resources, and household size determine the amount of food stamps a household receives.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM?

  • People who live together and buy food and prepare meals together are grouped as a “household” for the Food Stamp Program.  Husbands and wives, and children under 22 years old living with their natural, adoptive or stepparents must be considered as one household.
  • Household members that wish to be included must be U.S. citizens or legal aliens.
  • Household members that wish to be included must furnish or apply for a social security number.
  • Income and resource guidelines listed in this overview must be met.
  • Able-bodied household members who are age 16 through 59 must register for work, and may be required to participate in a Food Stamp Employment and Training Program unless a specified exemption is met.

WHERE DO HOUSEHOLDS GO TO APPLY FOR FOOD STAMPS?

Contact your local County Public Assistance Office.  Generally, the phone number and address can be found in the government section of your phone book under Public Health and Human Services.  If the number cannot be located, contact 1-800-332-2272 for a phone number of an office in your area.  For a food stamp application click here.

EXPEDITED SERVICES

The intent of expedited services is to make food stamp benefits available within seven calendar days of the application date to eligible households who meet the following criteria:

  • Households with less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in liquid resources; OR
  • Migrant or seasonal farm worker households with $100 or less in liquid resources; OR
  • Households with a combined monthly gross income and liquid resources less than the household’s monthly rent (or mortgage) and utilities.

FINANCIAL CRITERIA

  • INCOME

    • Households who meet the gross and net income standards listed below may participate in the Food Stamp Program.
    • Households who meet the gross monthly income standard are then evaluated for the net monthly income standard after allowable deductions have been taken into consideration.

FOOD STAMP PROGRAM INCOME LIMITS
October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008

Households Where Elderly and Disabled are A Separate Household

All Other Households

People in Household

Gross Monthly Income Standard

Net Monthly Income Standard

People in Household

Gross Monthly Income Standard

Net Monthly Income Standard

1

$1,404

  $   851

1

$1,107

  $   851

2

$1,883

$1,141

2

$1,484

$1,141

3

$2,361

$1,431

3

$1,861

$1,431

4

$2,840

$1,721

4

$2,238

$1,721

5

$3,318

$2,011

5

$2,615

$2,011

6

$3,797

$2,301

6

$2,992

$2,301

7

$4,275

$2,591

7

$3,369

$2,591

8

$4,754

$2,881

8

$3,746

$2,881
Each Additional Member

   +$479

  +$ 290

Each Additional Member

  +$377

  +$ 290

  • RESOURCES

    • Countable household resources cannot exceed $3,000 for households that include a member(s) age 60 or over, or include a disabled household member(s)
    • Countable household resources cannot exceed $2000 for all other households
    • All vehicles are excluded as a resource including vehicles that do not provide a means of transportation (camper, trailer, etc.)
    • The home you live in is excluded
    • Households in which all household members are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance, tribal TANF cash assistance, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are not subject to a resource limit.

  • DEDUCTIONS

    Allowable deductions for the Food Stamp Program are listed below.  The following deductions can be subtracted from countable income when determining a household’s food stamp benefits:

    • Twenty percent (20%) of the total gross earned income for each household;
    • A standard deduction of 8.31% of the net income limit for the household size (the minimum standard deduction is $134, and the maximum is $191);
    • Certain dependent-care costs;
    • Legally owed and paid child support;
    • A percentage of shelter costs; and
    • A medical expense deduction can be allowed for the portion of non-reimbursable medical expenses that exceed $35 per month per household.  This deduction is allowed for elderly and disabled household members.

ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER (EBT)

  • The State of Montana has implemented an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) System for the delivery of food stamps benefits.  The EBT System eliminated paper food stamp coupons.  Instead, food stamp participants are issued a debit card (called the Montana Access Card) for purchasing food products.
  • All Montana EBT participants have access to a help desk hotline (1-866-850-1556).  This interactive voice response system provides functions such as PIN selection, balance inquiry, and review of the last 10 transactions, as well as help with EBT system problems.
  • Food stamp benefits are electronically transferred to an account linked to the participant’s debit card. Participants use the debit card, along with their personal identification number (PIN), to purchase food using an online system similar to commercial point of sale (POS) services.

FARMERS MARKET

EBT debit cards can be used to buy fresh produce at the Farmers Market in Bozeman, Helena, and Missoula.

FOOD STAMP NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM

  • The Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program provides food stamp eligible participants with nutritional information and education opportunities. 
  • The goal of the program is to help individuals and families develop skills and behaviors leading to improved nutritional well-being. 
  • Nutrition Education Topics include:
    • Using the USDA Food Guide Pyramid to make healthier choices
    • Managing and budgeting food resources (money, food stamp benefits, commodities, WIC foods)
    • Meal planning and making foods stretch
    • Food buying
    • Low-cost food preparation
    • Food safety and sanitation

Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from 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, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 ( TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

FSP Overview.doc/dc
Revised 09-20-07

Page last updated: 07/14/2008