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Food Stamps

Washington D.C. Food Stamp Program

Introduction

SNAP was formerly known as the food stamp program in Washington D.C. The program helps low-income families with an EBT card that can be used like a debit card to buy groceries at specified stores that accept EBT. However, there are only certain foods that are allowed to be purchased with food stamps. There are some other things to consider if you do live in Washington D.C., only 86 percent of eligible District residents and 41 percent of eligible low-income working families, will receive food stamps. The benefits were recently expanded due to the success of the SNAP. You can find lots of information on the hunger solution program located at DCHunger.org. The Food Stamp/SNAP Expansion Act of 2009 gave more benefits to low-income families. There were also new transitional benefits for TANF leavers, who receive an automatic 5-month increase in benefits. There were also standardized self-employment deductions for those who qualified. For anyone who wants food stamps, you can consult the PDF on the program called How to Get Food in the District of Columbia.

Applying for Food Stamps

Unlike other states, you can’t apply online for food stamps, but you still have to visit the website to download the application. You can find that document located here You can find the application both in English and Spanish. You need some basic information about yourself to complete the application. This includes your name, street address and a phone number. You’ll also need more personal information, such as your social security number, work information and information for those who live with you, such as your dependents. You’ll need your birth date as well as the birth dates and social security numbers for your dependents. If you need help with your application, you can call 202-724-5506. It’s important to fill out the application entirely and apply in person with the right food stamp center. The application contains the addresses and phone numbers for multiple centers where you can apply.

Receiving Food Stamps

Eligibility depends on your household size and income. During the prescreening which you can look at here, you can determine if you are eligible to receive food assistance aid. The PDF prescreening takes you through a process of questions that determine your income and assets as well as how many people you have in your household. In general, you must be in a low-income family to be eligible for benefits. Once you are approved, you will receive benefits on an EBT card every month.

Finding Food Service Locations

SNAP is the federal name for the food assistance programs. Every state has multiple SNAP locations. In fact, every county should have multiple locations where you can use your card. You can find specific locations near you using the application from the Washington D.C. website, or you can call 202-724-5506.