Maryland Food Stamp is now called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) where this is a program that provides support for low-income households to buy food. Those who can get this assistance include unemployed people, people who have low salary, part-time workers, those who receive TCA (Temporary Cash Assistance) or other public assistance, elderly or disabled people and live on a small income and those who are homeless.
People who are eligible can get this assistance, but they need to fill out the application. Where can they fill out the application? The explanation about the application and also some other information related to the food stamps can be read below.
Applying For Maryland Food Stamps
If you want to get food stamps in Maryland, you need to be eligible. If you are eligible, you need to fill out a Maryland SNAP application and there will be an interview as well.
If you want to apply for food stamps, you can choose one of the methods below.
- You can fill out an application online through the Maryland Department of Human Services gateway.
- You can contact your local Department of Social Services for an application.
- You are also able to download the application.
Then, your application will be reviewed the same day it is received to determine whether you are eligible or not to get Food Stamps within 7 days. If you are eligible, you will be able to access your SNAP benefits within 30 days of your application.
Where to Get the Food Stamps Application?
As explained earlier, if you want to apply for food stamps, you need to fill out an application online, by contacting your local Department of Social Services or download the application. If you want to fill out the application online, you can go here https://mymdthink.maryland.gov. If you want to download the application, you can get it from here.
Requirements for Being Eligible to Receive Food Stamps
Not all people can receive food stamps. Those who can receive food stamps need to meet the requirements and here are the basic requirements according to the Maryland Department of Human Services.
- You are the citizens of the U.S. or non citizens of the U.S. There are some people who are not citizens of the U.S. who cannot receive food stamps. However, there are some exceptions for asylees, refugees, immigrants whose deportation has been withheld, Amerasians, Cuban/ Haitian entrants, and some immigrants legally admitted for permanent residence, parolees, aliens given conditional entry, and certain battered spouses and children. Certain Iraqi and Afghan immigrants, Border Crossing Native Americans, victims of human trafficking and Hmong or Laotian tribe members may be able to be qualified.
- You need to have a Social Security number including your children. If there is a family member who does not have a Social Security number, he or she needs to apply for having it. If there is a family member who does not have a Social Security number, he or she needs to apply for having it. Undocumented immigrants who apply on behalf of others do not need it.
- For work rules, you need to be between 16 and 60 years old and healthy and you need to be registered for work, accept an offer of suitable work, and participate in an employment and training program if referred to one by the local department of social services.
- A lot of students between 18 to 49 years old who are registered in college or other institutions of higher education at least half time are usually not eligible, but they may be able to get food stamp benefits if they:
- get cash assistance benefits under a TCA program,
- participate in a State or federally financed work study program,
- work at least 20 hours a week,
- are taking care of a dependent household member under 6 years old,
- are taking care of a dependent household member over 5 years old but under 12 years old and do not have enough child care to enable them to study at school and work a minimum of 20 hours, or to participate in a State or federally financed work study program, or
- are a single parent in school full-time with a child under 12 years old or
- are assigned to or placed in a college or certain other school through:
- a program under the Work Force Investment Act,
- a program under Section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974,
- a program of employment and training under the Food Stamp Act, or
- an employment and training program which is operated by a State or local government.
- are receiving disability and getting SSI, SSA, or VA disability payments, or
- have a disability verified by a doctor or licensed psychologist.
On the Maryland Physicians Care, it is explained that to get the benefit, besides you need to be resident of Maryland, you also need to have a current bank savings and checking balance combined under $2,001 or have a current bank savings and checking balance combined under $3,001 and share your household with a person 60 years old and over or a person with a disability.
All of your household’s countable income will be added and after that, the case manager will subtract certain deductions. Here are deductions which are allowed for all households.
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- 20% of earned income
- Standard deduction
- Real costs of dependent care costs for children and disabled adults if this care is needed so that a household member is able to work, find a job, or get training or education that leads to a job
- Legally owned and paid child-support payments
- Expenses of shelter and expenses utility
- Medical expenses over $35 a month for household members who are 60 years old or older or getting certain disability payments.
Verification is needed for these things.
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- Verification of income, such as paystubs, award letter or letter from employer
- Child-support payments, such as cancelled checks and a court order and the legal obligation to pay
- Verification of legal immigrant status for immigrants who are eligible
- Medical expenses for people who are 60 or older or disabled
- Information which is doubtful or conflicting
How Do I Know If I Qualify?
After you are interviewed, you will be sent a notice by the local department. If they inform you that you qualify, you will be given the explanation about the amount of the benefits that you will get and also how many months you are able to get the benefits before you need to reapply.
If they inform you that you are not qualified, you will be given the reasons.
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