The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federal program that helps qualifying American families put food on the table by providing extra funds to purchase groceries every month.
SNAP benefits are distributed by states and put onto electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards and can be used like a debit card at most grocery stores and farmers markets.
Here’s everything you need to know about applying for SNAP food assistance in Texas.
Eligibility
SNAP assistance is available for qualifying families, elderly people, and single adults. Applicants must reside in the state of Texas, and within the county they apply for assistance in.
You may qualify for food assistance if:
- You have a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,001, or
- You have a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $3,001 and share a household with one of the following: a person or persons age 60 or over, or a person with a disability.
To qualify, you must have an annual household income (before taxes) that is below the following amounts:
*For households with more than eight people, add $6,682 per additional person. Always check with the appropriate managing agency to ensure the most accurate guidelines. (Chart via Benefits.gov)
Work Rules
Most people ages 16 to 59 must actively be working, looking for work, or be in an approved work program to qualify for SNAP. A person is considered exempt from SNAP’s work rules if they are:
- A child under 16, a 16 or 17-year-old who’s not head of household, or a 16 or 17-year-old who attends school or training at least half-time;
- Physically or mentally unfit for employment;
- 60 or older;
- Caring for a child under the age of six;
- Caring for a person with a disability who is living in the home;
- In a drug and alcohol treatment program;
- Living in a minimum-service county;
- Receiving unemployment benefits or in the process of applying for them;
- Meeting the SNAP full-time employment requirement by working at least 30 hours a week or receiving earnings equal to 30 hours a week multiplied by the federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour);
- Registered with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Choices work program; or
- A student 18 or older in school or a training program at least half time.
If a person has a job, they can’t quit or choose to work less than 30 hours per week without good cause and still receive benefits.
Good cause is defined as circumstances beyond a worker’s control that prevent them from complying with employment service requirements. Good causes include, but are not limited to, discrimination by an employer based on age, race, sex, color, handicap, religious belief, national origin, or political beliefs; not being paid on time; and unavailability of transportation.
Most able-bodied adults ages 18 to 52 without children or dependents must also fulfill the work requirements, otherwise, they can only get SNAP assistance for three months in a three-year period without working. This benefit period could be longer if a person works or participates in a job training program at least 20 hours per week.
Individuals in this age range who are able-bodied can get exemptions for this requirement if they are any of the following:
- pregnant;
- reside with a household member who is under 18;
- physically or mentally unfit to work;
- a veteran;
- age 24 or younger and are/were in foster care on their 18th birthday; or
- homeless.
The Texas Dept. of Health and Human Services defines a homeless person as “an individual who lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence” or someone whose primary nighttime residence is:
- A supervised shelter designed to provide temporary accommodations (such as a congregate shelter);
- A halfway house or similar institution that provides temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized;
- A temporary accommodation for not more than 90 days in the residence of another individual; or
- A place not designed for, or ordinarily used, as a regular sleeping accommodation (a hallway, a bus station, a lobby, or similar places).
How to Apply for SNAP
To apply for SNAP benefits, click here.
You will be asked to provide:
- proof of identity for everyone in your household
- proof of income
- two months of bank statements
- documents for immigration status (if applicable)
- rent or mortgage information
- medical costs
- dependent care expenses
- child support payments
If you need help applying, organizations such as the Central Texas Food Bank are here to help. To find help near you, you can search by zip code here.
If you are approved for SNAP benefits in the state of Texas, you will be issued a Lone Star Card from your local Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) benefit office or by mail. Click here for more information.
You can manage your Lone Star Card with the Your Texas Benefits mobile app, YourTexasBenefits.com, and the Lone Star Helpdesk.
You cannot use your Lone Star Card to purchase tobacco or alcoholic drinks, and it cannot be used to purchase non-food items or to pay any food bills you owe.
You can also use your Lone Star Card to purchase food online. Click here to learn more.
Texas Simplified Application Project (TSAP) for SNAP
The Texas Simplified Application Project (TSAP) provides Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits to Texas households where every member is either older adults and/or people with disabilities.
Benefit amounts will be calculated based on income and household size.
To be eligible for TSAP, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- All the members of your household are 60 or older, receive disability payments no matter their age, or are a combination of both.
- The members of your household have no earned income (this is income received from working).
- No members of your household receive benefits under the SNAP-Combined Application Project (SNAP-CAP).
To apply, click here or visit your local Texas Health and Human Service office to pick up a paper application, which you can return via mail, fax, or in person. To find your local office, click here.
You can also request an application by calling 2-1-1 (after selecting a language, choose Option 2).
When applying you will be asked to provide:
- Copies of recent medical bills or pharmacy statements to verify medical expenses.
- Award letters or similar statements that verify any pension, retirement, or disability income.
- Current bank statements.
