Food Assistance (SNAP and WIC)
What you will find in this section:
What is food assistance?
In the United States, there are two major programs that can help individuals and families who need support with food, you may be eligible for both:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – WIC
SNAP is available to individuals and families with low income, regardless of age or family composition. WIC, on the other hand, provides assistance specifically to pregnant women, new mothers, and young children up to the age of five.
There may be other local resources and food banks or food pantries in your area that can offer temporary help if you need food right away while you are waiting for your SNAP or WIC application to be processed. It's a good idea to check out these options if you need immediate food assistance. To find them, search online or ask around religious or community organizations.
Application process (general guidelines)
As with all other benefits we strongly recommend getting the help of your local resettlement agency to assist with the application. Please find your local agency here (please filter by your state):
Additional resources
If you’re in desperate need of food, contact government or private organizations for immediate food assistance:
Call 211 to find agencies and community organizations that can assist you with finding food in an emergency.
Call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273). Information is available in English and Spanish. The hotline operates Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time.
Option #1: SNAP
What it is
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, is a federal assistance program that helps low-income individuals and families purchase nutritious food. SNAP benefits are provided through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which can be used to buy a variety of food items at grocery stores, supermarkets, and farmers’ markets.
Eligibility
The main requirement for SNAP is income, but depending on the state, there may be other requirements as well.
To qualify for SNAP, your income must be below a certain level, which varies by state. However, there may be exceptions if you already qualify for other assistance programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or if you have certain family members eligible for programs like TANF. Each state has its own rules, so it's best to check with your local SNAP office to understand the specific income requirements.
Here’s an extended guide on how to calculate your SNAP eligibility.
Every state has a limit on total assistance given to one person and one family. For this reason, the exact amount of SNAP will vary for different people within one state depending on other assistance they are already receiving. The only way to find out the exact amount of SNAP you are eligible for is to apply for it.
Documents
The workers at the SNAP clinics need to verify how much you earn and where you live, which can be done in a variety of ways, based on your state. The workers at the clinics are often nice and helpful, but tend to be overworked, which means that it may take you a while to get information if you call them or ask in person. You can submit these documents online or in person, depending on the state.
How to Apply
After submitting your application, you will be asked to attend an interview to verify your information. They will most likely send you the day and time of the interview over mail, however in certain states like California, they may simply call you without notice. Make sure you check your mail often and answer phone calls from numbers you may not recognize in case it is them. If you miss your interview, it will be very difficult to reschedule, so make sure that you attend.
EBT
An Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card is a lot like a debit card that you swipe, with a certain amount of money loaded onto it. The workers at the SNAP clinic will help you set it up properly. EBT can only be used to buy certain types of food, as shown below:
Fruits and vegetables
Meat, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Bread and cereals
Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
Seeds and plants
Unfortunately, EBT cannot be used to buy:
Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement
Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from the water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store)
Foods that are hot at the point of sale
Any nonfood items such as:
Pet foods
Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies
Hygiene items, cosmetics
Resubmitting
SNAP benefits will need to be renewed. How often you need to renew it varies based on the state, but it is usually once a year.
Option #2: WIC
What it is
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a government program that provides nutrition assistance to pregnant women, new mothers, and young children. It helps ensure you have access to healthy food for you and your family.
WIC serves
Pregnant women
Breastfeeding women
Non-breastfeeding postpartum women
Infants
Toddlers and children up to age 5
Eligibility
WIC has three requirements for eligibility — categorical, income, and nutritional.
Categorical:
Only certain people qualify for WIC. The following are qualified for WIC nationwide:
Women
Pregnant (during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after the birth of an infant or the end of the pregnancy
Postpartum (up to six months after the birth of the infant or the end of the pregnancy)
Breastfeeding (up to the infant's first birthday)
Children under Five
Keep in mind that the categorical requirements may be expanded in certain states.
Income:
To qualify for WIC, you will most likely need to make less than a certain amount, which varies from state to state. There are some exceptions, such as if you qualify for another program, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or have certain family members that are eligible to receive Medicaid or TANF. There may also be other exceptions, which vary from state to state.
Nutritional:
WIC is meant for those in need of food assistance, so you will need to be examined by a doctor to see if you currently have a poor diet, or if you’re otherwise in need of better food options than you currently have. If you currently have a physician, you can get this examination done by them. If you do not, the WIC clinic will give you a free examination.
The WIC Prescreening Tool is a way for you to check online if you should consider getting an examination. We recommend that you use it before scheduling an appointment to see if you meet the requirements.
Documents
The appointment to judge your WIC eligibility varies from state to state, but you will generally need to bring these documents with you:
One of These Proofs of Income:
Most recent pay stub
Employment letter
Unemployment book
W-2 form
TANF – public assistance letter
Medicaid card
Food Stamps letter
One of These Proofs of Address:
Lease
Rent receipt
Bill (electric, gas, etc.)
A letter that shows where you live
Medical Referral Form
This form will need to be completed by your doctor.
Remember that the requirements vary depending on where you live, so get in touch with your local WIC clinic to see exactly what you need.
How to Apply
Contact your local WIC clinic to see if you are eligible, and if so, which documents you will need to prove it.
Gather the necessary documents.
Schedule an appointment with the WIC clinic.
Await further instructions.