Feature Articles
Your Rights Under the Food Stamp Program
Brenda Procter, M.S., State Specialist & Instructor, Personal Financial Planning, University of Missouri Extension
The Food Stamp Program is the first line of defense
against hunger. It helps low-income families buy
nutritious food with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)
cards. The Program provides support to households in
need and to those who are moving from welfare to work.
The Missouri Family Services Division takes applications
for the Food Stamp Program.
These are your rights under the Food Stamp
Program:
- You always have the right to apply for
food stamp benefits on the day that you contact any
Family Services Division (FSD) office. You can apply
by phone or in person.
- If you apply by phone, FSD can send you a food
stamp application the day you call. You can mail the
application back to FSD, fax it to them, or bring it
in person to the office of your choice.
- When you apply for food stamps, you also can
apply for other help, such as Medical Assistance,
Temporary Assistance (cash benefits), or Child Care
assistance. Or, you can apply for food stamp
benefits only.
- If you are denied other benefits, you may still
be eligible for food stamp benefits, even if you
filed a joint application for other programs.
- The Food Stamp Program does not have time limits
like Temporary Assistance does.
- Getting food stamp benefits does not affect your
eligibility for Temporary Assistance.
- If you lose your Temporary Assistance benefits
because you go to work, reach your time limit, or
are sanctioned for some reason, you may still be
eligible for food stamps.
- AN FSD caseworker will have to interview you
before your application can be processed. You can
have an interview in person or over the phone.
- If your food stamp benefits are ending, you will
receive a notice in the mail and an application to
renew them. Fill it out and mail it or fax it back,
or take it to the FSD office in person.
- It is important to tell the FSD caseworker about
any expenses that you have, because they may make
the difference in your eligibility to receive food
stamp benefits.
- If you have an emergency situation, you may be
eligible to receive "expedited" benefits in 7 days.
Otherwise, FSD must process your application within
30 days. Tell your caseworker if you have an
emergency, and call FSD if your application is not
processed within the time limit.
- You have the right to see or get a copy of
anything in your file and have it explained to you
in a language or in terms that you can understand.
- If you do not give a social security number for
any member of your household, the remaining members
will still be considered for benefits, without that
person being included in the decision.
- If you apply for someone who is not a citizen,
you must give FSD the immigration status of that
person. You may choose not to include the
non-citizen, but it could affect the household's
eligibility or lower the amount of benefits that
everyone else in the household can get.
- If you are denied benefits, or if you disagree
with any decision about your benefits, you have the
right to a fair hearing. You may bring a lawyer,
friend, relative or anyone else to the hearing on
your case.
- Under Federal law, FSD may not discriminate
against you on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, political beliefs or
disability. To file a discrimination complaint,
contact USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room
326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC, 20250-0410, or call 202-720-5964
(for both voice and TDD).
To get food stamps for everyone in your household,
you have to give FSD a social security number for
everyone. The number will be used to get information for
each person from:
- the Social Security Administration
- the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- the Missouri Division of Workforce Development
- the Missouri Department of Corrections
- the Veterans Administration
- the Division of Child Support Enforcement
- Local law enforcement
- Employers
- Other states (to verify that you are not already
receiving benefits from one of them)
The Food Stamp Program is there to help, so do not hesitate to apply or to question decisions if you feel any of your rights have been violated. For more information about the Food Stamp Program, see http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/.
Sources
Missouri Department of Social Services website, Family
Support Division, Instructions for Making Your Food
Stamp Application and Food Stamp Rights,
http://www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/fstamp/pdf/fs1_1006.pdf.
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
website, Food Stamp Program,
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/.
USDA Food and Nutrition Service website, Food Stamp Program, Applicants and Recipients: Your Rights, http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/applicant_recipients/rights.htm.
Last update: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
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