You have less than $150 in gross income for the month and $100 or less in liquid resources (e.g.; cash on hand, money in a checking or savings account, or a lump sum payment from a tax refund, retroactive Social Security or SSI).
OR
Your combined gross income and liquid resources are less than your current monthly rent and actual utility costs.
OR
Your household includes migrant or seasonal farm workers whose liquid resources do not exceed $100 and who are in need of immediate help to get food at the time of applying for food stamps.
If you qualify, DSHS must give you food stamps within 5 days following the day you submit an application (e.g., if you apply on the 1st, you should receive them by the 6th). Unlike cash emergency benefits, emergency food stamps are not limited to once a year.
If you are denied emergency food stamps and you think the denial is wrong, you may appeal it by asking for a fair hearing. You may ask for a fair hearing by writing to the Office of Administrative Hearings, P.O. Box 42489, Olympia, WA 98504 or by calling your local welfare office and asking for the Fair Hearing Coordinator. If it is an emergency, you may ask to have your hearing held as soon as possible by calling the Office of Administrative Hearings at (360) 664-8717 or 1-800-583-8271. This is called an "expedited" hearing. See our publication Representing Yourself at a Fair Hearing.
This publication provides general information concerning your rights and responsibilities. It is not intended as a substitute for specific legal advice. This information is current as of the date of its printing, June 2005.
Information, Not Legal Advice. We are providing this information as a public service. We try to make it accurate as of the date noted in the materials. Sometimes the laws change. We cannot promise that this information is always up-to-date and correct. Most of the information provided on this web site is specific to Washington State law.
We do not intend this information to be legal advice. By providing this information, we are not acting as your lawyer. If you need legal advice, you should contact a lawyer through your local legal aid organization. Always talk to a competent lawyer, if you can, before taking legal action.
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