Food Assistance: Mealtimes Don't Have to Be Tough Times
by: Iowa Legal Aid
The goal of the Food Assistance Program (formerly called Food Stamps) is to help you put more food on your table. The program is designed for you and your family to eat better during the hard times. Food assistance is for the times you don't have a lot of money to spend. Here are some basic facts on food assistance in Iowa. Please read them carefully to see if you can get food assistance. Know what to bring with you when you apply for food assistance. If you have questions, please call your county Department of Human Services (DHS) office. They can help.
As of October1, 2008, the new name for the old federal Food Stamp Program is Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). However, Iowa will continue to call its program The Food Assistance Program. Some of the changes that may be helpful to Iowans under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 include:
- no longer counting pension and retirement accounts as a resource to decide if you can get food assistance.
- no longer setting a limit on the amount of child and dependent care costs that are allowed as a deduction for figuring how much food assistance you can get.
These two changes to the Food Assistance Program will mean that more Iowans with limited income will be eligible for food assistance.
Facts about Food Assistance
- You can work and still get food assistance.
- You can own a house and a car and still get food assistance.
- You can be getting social security, supplemental security income (SSI), unemployment, or welfare and still get food assistance.
- You don't have to live with children to get food assistance.
What Is Food Assistance?
Food Assistance now uses a debit-like card instead of coupons or what used to be called food stamps. This is called an electronic benefits transfer card or EBT card. The plastic card can be used to buy nutritious foods. Foods like meat and fish, vegetables and fruits, dairy products, and bread. You may not use food assistance to buy alcohol, tobacco, paper products, or pet food.
Where Can You Use Your Food Assistance ?
You may use your EBT Card at most grocery stores, supermarkets, food co-ops, and farmers' markets.
Who Can Get Food Assistance?
Any U.S. citizen and some legal immigrants may get food assistance if they:
- get benefits from SSI or the Family Investment Program (FIP), OR
- meet the food assistance program guidelines and any other rules that apply to their household, AND
- have, or apply for, a social security number for all household members.
Unemployed persons between 18 and 50 who are able to work and who do not have children can only get food assistance for three months in any three-year period.
*For More Information on Immigrants and Food Assistance, see the article "Food Stamps and Immigrants" on the Iowa Legal Aid website at iowalegalaid.org
How Do I Know If I Qualify for Food Assistance?
There are two tests you need to take to see if you qualify for food assistance (unless you get SSI or FIP benefits and are automatically eligible).
- the resource test, and
- the income test that applies to your household.
What is The Resource Limit for Getting Food Assistance?
Resources are things you own like your home and car as well as cash you have in the bank, stocks, or U.S. savings bonds. Not all of your resources will be counted. To get food assistance the value of your counted resources must not be more than:
- $2,000 for most households;
- $3,000 for households of one or more if at least one person is 60 years or older, or has a disability.
What Kinds of Resources Can I Have and Still Be Eligible for Food Assistance?
- your home and the land it's on, most personal belongings, and farm or business property are not counted toward the resource limit.
- At least one motor vehicle per household is not counted as a resource no matter what the value of the vehicle. Other vehicles in the household may also not be counted as a resource depending on how they are used or their value.
- pension plans whether the funds were contributed by the employer or employee as well as tax-deferred or tax-advantage retirement accounts are not counted. This includes 401 K plans, IRA accounts, and, IPERS. NOTE: This rule is new with the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
How Does the Food Assistance Program Consider Income?
If you live in a household that does not contain a person who is elderly (60 or over) or has a disability, you must meet a "gross income test." Gross income is your household's total monthly income, before taxes or household expenses are subtracted. This total must be less than the food assistance program's "gross income limits."
Your household's income includes money that you or other members of your household earn. This means money such as self-employment income, unemployment insurance, social security, public assistance, pensions, child support, veterans benefits, and other payments.
*Note: Households that do not have members who are elderly or have a disability must also meet the "net income test."
Monthly Gross Income and Net Income Limits for October 2008 through September 2009 for Iowa
| Number of Persons in Household |
Monthly Gross Income Limit |
Monthly Net Income Limit |
| 1 |
$1,127 |
$867 |
| 2 |
$1,517 |
$1,167 |
| 3 |
$1,907 |
$1,467 |
| 4 |
$2,297 |
$1,767 |
| 5 |
$2,687 |
$2,067 |
| 6 |
$3,077 |
$2,367 |
| 7 |
$3,467 |
$2,667 |
| 8 |
$3,857 |
$2,967 |
| Each additional person |
+$390 |
+$300 |
NET INCOME TEST
If your household does have a member who is elderly or has a disability, only the net income limit applies. To figure your household's net income, first subtract 20% of any earned income (this is an allowance for payroll taxes and work expenses). Second, you subtract certain living expenses from any remaining income. The living expenses that are subtracted include certain deductions for high rent and utility costs, some medical costs over $35 for the members who are elderly and have a disability, and child care costs. In addition, a standard amount of $144 a month is also subtracted for each 1 to 3 person household (this is known in the food assistance program as the "standard deduction"). The standard deduction increases for households larger than 3 persons with $197 being the greatest amount for households of 6 or more.
*Note that under the new Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 there is no longer a limit to the amount of child and dependent care costs that can be deducted if a household qualifies for this deduction.
Can a Person with Disabilities Who Lives With Others Get Food Assistance for Himself or Herself?
Under certain conditions, an elderly person who has a disability (and his or her spouse) living with others can still get food stamps even though someone else buys and prepares their food. The criteria for this are:
- the person is eligible for food stamps, AND
- the person cannot buy and fix his or her meals independently because of a permanent disability, AND
- the person is living in a household where income of other members is at or less than 165% of poverty.
For persons who are elderly and have a disability to be eligible for food assistance, the household's monthly gross income of members OTHER than the person who is elderly and has a disability and his or her spouse must not exceed the limits shown below:
Monthly Gross Income Limits for October 2008 through September 2009 for Households of Persons Who Are Elderly and Have a Disability
| Number of Persons in Household |
Gross Income Limit |
| 1 |
$1,430 |
| 2 |
$1,925 |
| 3 |
$2,420 |
| 4 |
$2,915 |
| 5 |
$3,410 |
| 6 |
$3,905 |
| 7 |
$4,400 |
| 8 |
$4,895 |
| Each additional Person |
+ $495 |
BENEFIT LEVELS - Benefit levels for all households depend on two factors:
- the number of people in a household, and
- the household's net income.
The more people in the household and the lower the household income the larger the amount of food assistance. The maximum benefit for the poorest households is $323 a month for a household of two. It is $588 a month for a household of four. (These benefit levels apply starting October 2008).
I Think I Qualify for Food Assistance, Now How Do I Get EBT Card?
You must file an application at your local Department of Human Services (DHS) office. You may pick up your application there, or phone them and have them mail one to you. You may also see the application in both English and Spanish by going to DHS website on the Internet: http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/. Click on Food Assistance. Most households must have a person-to-person interview with a food assistance worker to go over the application and make sure you have the documents you need. If you can't get to the office in person, you may appoint any responsible adult to act as your authorized representative. In some cases, if you are elderly or a person with disabilities or face certain hardships, you won't need to have an office interview. When this happens, the office can arrange a home visit or telephone interview. For help applying contact the Department of Human Services Food Assistance Call Center at: 1-877-937-3663 or go to your local DHS Office.
What Do I Need to Bring with Me When I Apply for Food Assistance?
If you cannot get all these things together right now, apply anyway. This is important because they figure your benefits from the day you give the food assistance office your signed application. You must, however, bring the remaining items later.
Items Required
- I.D. showing your name and address.
- Proof of social security number (or proof that you have applied for a social security number) for all household members.
- Proof of your monthly earnings, such as recent pay stubs.
- Copy of check or benefit statement from social security, pensions, SSI, or other unearned income.
- If not a U.S. citizen, proof of legal alien status.
- Medical bills of household members sixty years or older and have a disability, if these bills are not paid by insurance or Medicaid or Medicare.
- Bankbook or current bank statement, if you have one.
- Receipts for child care costs.
- Utility and rent bills (or proof of mortgage and property tax payments, if you own your home.)
You may also be required to verify other information about your household status.
Once I've Applied, How Long Will it Take to Get My EBT Card
for Food Assistance?
If you qualify, you'll get food assistance within 30 days of the date your local DHS Office gets your application. Some people can qualify for Emergency Service for Food Assistance, and get food assistance within seven calendar days. To get emergency service, you must have less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in liquid assets(resources that could be cashed in), OR your monthly rent or mortgage and utilities costs are more than your monthly gross income and cash resources. Some migrant or seasonal farmworkers who are destitute and have less than $100 in resources may also be able to get Emergency Service for food assistance.
What If I Don't Get the Food Assistance?
If you think you should be getting food assistance and did not get it, or the amount of assistance seems less than you think it should be, contact your local Department of Human Services (DHS) office. You should ask for a hearing. You can request a hearing verbally or write and ask for a hearing. You should also contact your local Iowa Legal Aid office. Call 1-800-532-1275 for the toll free telephone number of the office serving your county.
This material was adapted from How to Keep Mealtimes from Being Tough Times - A Guide to Getting Food Stamps, The Committee for Food and Shelter, 815 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
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