Today is Wednesday and I spent $20.30 in food stamps.
How do food stamps work? First and foremost, in order to qualify for food stamps, one must complete the application process, which varies depending on the state in which the individual requests food assistance. I applied for food stamps in the state of Virginia, so the following information will be based upon my particular experience in Virginia.
Once I got over my personal hesitations of requesting food assistance and I realized that there was an actual application process and I had a slight panic. I initially thought that one merely had to wait in line in order to receive his or her rations, much as happens in a food pantry; but I was wrong. I began to have irrational flashbacks to applying to university, where there was a very real chance that rejection could occur. While the process is not as rigorous applying to university, one can actually be denied food assistance, depending on whether they meet the necessary requirements, which consists of a balance of income, expenses and money-in-pocket (savings, trusts or money from relatives, benefactors, etc). Those who are considered qualified must fall within the poverty income bracket (which also varies by state and district). Additionally, based on an individual’s expenses, such as rent, utilities and expenses for dependents (i.e. children, relatives and services related to said dependents), if one’s expenses amount to a majority of their monthly salary, then they can be considered in the poverty bracket, thus qualifying them for food assistance. Finally, the last qualification is based upon money-in-hand; if an individual has more than $2,000.00 in either savings, etc., then they are automatically disqualified from receiving food assistance. In my case, as an AmeriCorps volunteer, my $1067.00 monthly stipend is not actually considered income, rather assistance for living expenses. If the stipend were, however, to actually be considered a salary and since my monthly expenses average around $930.00 per month, then the $75.00 left per month, after taxes, would indeed place me in the poverty bracket.
When I was ready to begin the application process, I went to the Department of Human Services (DHS) website for Virginia, and I followed the instructions. As I filled out my application I had to have specific information in hand pertaining to my rent, expenses, bank account information and verification of employment. Within two days of submitting my application, a representative from the DHS contacted me and set up a phone interview, where I responded to various questions, all of which were meant to verify the information I had provided in my application. I was then asked to fax over a copy of my lease, my passport photo page (a birth certificate would also suffice), a document from my supervisor confirming my employment and my salary (or lack-there-of in my case) and a written and signed document confirming that I would not use my food stamps to either purchase or prepare food for others using any food purchased through food assistance. Once these steps were completed, I was contacted within 24 hours explaining that I had been approved for the maximum allowance of food stamps ($200.00 per month). Since my first stipend check was not expected for an additional 3 weeks after my enrollment in food assistance, I also qualified for emergency food stamps, entitling me to by-pass the normal 15-day processing period. Within 6 days, I received my EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card in the mail, which allowed me to start purchasing my government-assisted food.
Today I purchased a plethora of food, including almonds, grapefruit, cucumbers, milk, pita and blue corn chips and other assorted treats. This was made possible through food stamps.
No comments:
Post a Comment