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Food Stamp Eligibility - Iowa

Meeting Eligibility Rules and Providing Proof That You Are Eligible

Listed below are some of the basic rules and the kinds of proof you may need during your interview. Your case may be completed faster if you bring the proof with you to the interview.

If you have trouble getting papers (documents) or information you need, the worker may be able to help you. If the papers are not easy to get, you may give the name of someone, such as your employer, who can confirm your statements.

·     Citizenship Status: U. S. citizens and many non-citizens may be eligible for the program. See: Citizenship Status.

·     Social Security Numbers: You will have to provide a Social Security number for every household member, including children. If any household member does not have a Social Security number, he or she will have to apply for one. If you are otherwise eligible for food stamps, you can get them for a short time while you are waiting for your Social Security number.

·     Work Rules: With certain exceptions, able-bodied adults between 16 and 60 years of age must register for work, accept an offer of suitable work, and take part in an employment and training program to which they are referred by the food stamp office. See: Food Stamps and Work.

·     Students: Most able-bodied students ages 18 through 49 who are enrolled in college or other institutions of higher education at least half time are not eligible for food stamps. See: Food Stamps and Students.

·     Persons on Strike: Households with a person who is on strike because of a labor dispute are not eligible unless they were eligible the day before the strike and continue to be eligible at the time of application. Eligible households cannot get more food stamps just because the striking member is getting less income.

·     Resources: Under food stamp rules, resources—such as bank accounts, cash, real estate, personal property, vehicles, and so forth—are considered in determining whether a household is eligible to get food stamps. Some resources are counted toward the allowable limit and some are not. See Food Stamps Resource Test.

·     Income: Under food stamp rules, almost all types of income are counted to determine if a household is eligible. Most households must have income at or below certain dollar limits before and after deductions are allowed. See Food Stamps Income Test.

Finding Out If You Qualify

After your interview, the food stamp office will send you a notice.

If you do not qualify for food stamps, the notice will explain why.

If you do qualify, the notice will explain how many food stamps you will get. It will also tell you how many months you can get food stamps before you must reapply.

If you think your application has been wrongly denied or that you have not gotten the correct amount of food stamps, you should tell the office. If they do not agree, you must ask them to have your case reviewed by a fair hearing official. For more information about fair hearings, see: Food Stamps Rights and Responsibilities.

See Also:

·           Food Stamp Benefit Levels

·           Food Stamps and Work

·     Food Stamp Program Overview

·     Welcome and Introduction to Iowa Benefits

Source: Iowa Dept of Human Services Employees Manual

Title 7

·                                        Chapter C, Nonfinancial Eligibility

·                                        Chapter F, Budgeting, Determining Eligibility

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