State of Montana
Food Stamp Program Overview
October 2008
Effective October 1, 2008 the federal Food Stamp Program was renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The name change more accurately reflects the mission of providing supplemental food and nutrition assistance to low income people. SNAP recipients use EBT cards, which are similar to debit cards, to purchase food in authorized retail stores.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?
- People who live together and buy food and prepare meals together are grouped as a “household” for SNAP. Husbands and wives, and children under age 22 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 SNAP Employment and Training Program unless a specified exemption is met.
WHERE DO HOUSEHOLDS GO TO APPLY FOR SNAP BENEFITS?
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.
EXPEDITED SERVICES
The intent of expedited services is to make food 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 SNAP.
- 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.
SNAP INCOME LIMITS October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009 |
|||||
Households Where Elderly and Disabled are
A Separate Household |
All Other Households |
||||
People in |
Gross Monthly |
Net Monthly |
People in |
Gross Monthly |
Net Monthly |
1 |
$1,430 |
$ 867 |
1 |
$1,127 |
$ 867 |
2 |
$1,925 |
$1,167 |
2 |
$1,517 |
$1,167 |
3 |
$2,420 |
$1,467 |
3 |
$1,907 |
$1,467 |
4 |
$2,915 |
$1,767 |
4 |
$2,297 |
$1,767 |
5 |
$3,410 |
$2,067 |
5 |
$2,687 |
$2,067 |
6 |
$3,905 |
$2,367 |
6 |
$3,077 |
$2,367 |
7 |
$4,400 |
$2,667 |
7 |
$3,467 |
$2,667 |
8 |
$4,895 |
$2,967 |
8 |
$3,857 |
$2,967 |
Each Additional |
+$495 |
+$300 |
Each Additional |
+$390 |
+$300 |
- RESOURCES
- Countable household resources cannot exceed $3,000 for households that include a member age 60 or over, or include a disabled household member.
- Countable household resources cannot exceed $2000 for all other households.
- The home you live in, vehicles, tax-preferred educational and retirement accounts, and combat-related military pay are excluded as resources.
- 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
- Twenty percent (20%) of the total gross earned income for each household;
- A standard deduction of the net income limit based on the household size;
- 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.
Allowable deductions for SNAP are listed below. The following deductions can be subtracted from countable income when determining a household’s SNAP benefits:
ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER (EBT)
- The State of Montana has implemented an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) System for the delivery of SNAP benefits. The EBT System eliminated paper food stamp coupons. Instead, SNAP 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.
- SNAP 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 participating Farmers Markets.
NUTRITION EDUCATION (SNAP ED)
- SNAP offers participants 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, SNAP benefits, commodities, WIC foods)
- Meal planning and making foods stretch
- Food buying
- Low-cost food preparation
- Food safety and sanitation
- For more information please contact your local Public Assistance Office.
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
In accordance with Federal law and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of age, race, color, sex, disability, religion, national origin, or political beliefs.
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).
