How Do I Apply for an EBT Card (SNAP Benefits)?

If you need help affording food, you may qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This program used to provide benefits through food stamps, but now uses electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards.

Nearly 42 million people, or about 1 in 8 individuals in the U.S., participated in SNAP as of June 2023. 

Below, we look at the SNAP program, how to apply, and what to do if you’re facing hunger now.

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What is SNAP?

SNAP assistance is meant to supplement what individuals and families with low incomes spend on food. The concept of using food stamps as a subsidy for groceries dates back to 1939 in the U.S., and the Food Stamp Act was passed in 1964. By 2008, the program had been renamed SNAP and EBT cards were the standard way to issue benefits.

SNAP is run by local offices in every state, Washington, D.C., and three U.S. territories: Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands receive block grants and issue food coupons instead of EBT cards.) In addition, New York City runs its own SNAP program independently from New York state.

If you are approved for SNAP, funds are added to your EBT card every month. You can use the money to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other retail outlets that accept SNAP benefits.

Who qualifies for food stamps (SNAP)?

People who qualify for SNAP must meet certain income and asset limits for their household size. Some people also may be subject to work requirements. The income limits are consistent across the 48 contiguous states, but higher in Alaska and Hawaii. 

Many people who receive SNAP are workers who have low wages. Your eligibility is calculated based on gross income or total income as well as your net income, which has allowed deductions. Income can be considered:

• Pay from a job 

• Unearned income (like money given to a person, or cash assistance)

• Unemployment compensation 

• Social Security 

• Child support

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For the federal fiscal year, which began in October 2023, your assets or “countable resources” — such as cash on hand or in the bank — are limited to $2,750 or less for households where everyone is under 60 and no one has a disability. If at least one person in the household is at least 60 or disabled, that household can have up to $4,250 in countable resources and still be eligible for SNAP.

College students may qualify for SNAP if they are enrolled in school at least half time and meet at least one exemption, such as:

• Work at least 20 hours a week in paid employment

• Participate in a work-study program financed by state or federal resources

• Care for a child under age 6

• Are a single parent enrolled full time and caring for a child under age 12

Expanded SNAP eligibility for college students during the COVID-19 pandemic expired on July 1, 2023.

SNAP is only available for U.S. citizens and lawfully present (documented) non-citizens. In some states, people with felony drug convictions are not eligible for SNAP.

How to apply for SNAP benefits (food stamps)

To apply for SNAP, you will need to know where to go and what documents you’ll need. It’s important to note that each state and territory has its own application and process. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) doesn’t process applications and doesn’t have access to case information.

Here’s how to apply step by step:

1. Identify and contact your local SNAP office. Start by searching the national SNAP State Directory of Resources to find your local SNAP office. Depending on where you live, your local SNAP office may be a health and human services, social services, or workforce services department. If you live in New York City, your SNAP office is separate from New York state’s. If you live in American Samoa or the Northern Mariana Islands, you have a Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) where you can apply for food coupons.

2. Find out if you qualify through another program. Some people already qualify for SNAP through another “means-tested” program such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

3. Make sure everyone in your household has applied for a Social Security number. It’s important to note that everyone in your household must have or have applied for a Social Security number. You can access SNAP benefits if you’re not a U.S. citizen, but you must be lawfully present. You can also apply for SNAP benefits for children who are citizens, even if you are not.

4. Submit your application. Depending on your local SNAP program, you may be able to apply online, over the phone, on a paper form that you return, or in person. You may need an appointment to apply in person.

5. Wait for a decision. If you’re approved, you should receive an EBT card to use for groceries. You will typically receive a decision within 30 days of your application and could start receiving SNAP in as quickly as 7 days if you qualify for expedited benefits. If you are denied SNAP, you can appeal by requesting a fair hearing within 90 days of the decision. You can make that request by phone, in writing, or in person.

What documents do you need to apply for SNAP?

When applying for SNAP, you’ll need to have documents to verify your identity, address, income, and assets.

These documents may include:

• Driver’s license, Social Security card, and other identification

• Rent receipt or mortgage statement to confirm home address

• Check stubs, Social Security statements, and other proof of income

• Bank statements

• Utility bills, medical receipts, and other statements showing expenses

How to get immediate help if you’re hungry

If you need help getting food now, you can call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-348-6479 for assistance in English and 1-877-842-6273 for assistance in Spanish.

Additional resources include the following:

• Hunger Free America, which runs the USDA National Hunger Hotline, lists hunger resources on its clearinghouse website.

• Feeding America is a network of more than 200 local food banks.

• No Kid Hungry has an inclusive free meals locator, which also shows sites that serve seniors only.

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Written by:

Michael Schroeder

Michael Schroeder is a freelance health writer and editor. His stories have been published in a range of print and digital publications, including U.S. News & World Report, The Washington Post, The Indianapolis Star, The Huffington Post, and Psychology Today.

Edited by:

Cindy George, MPH

Cindy George is the senior personal finance editor at GoodRx. She is an endlessly curious health journalist and digital storyteller.

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