In case anyone is interested, SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, formerly "Food Stamps") program guidelines as they appear on the DPHHS website:
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?
People who live together and buy food and prepare meals together are grouped as a "household" for SNAP. Husbands and wives, and children under age 22 living with their natural, adoptive or stepparents must be considered as one household.
Household members that wish to be included must be U.S. citizens or legal aliens.
Household members that wish to be included must furnish or apply for a social security number.
Income and resource guidelines listed in this overview must be met.
Able-bodied household members who are age 16 through 59 must register for work, and may be required to participate in a SNAP Employment and Training Program unless a specified exemption is met.
WHERE DO HOUSEHOLDS GO TO APPLY FOR SNAP BENEFITS?
To apply for SNAP or for more information about SNAP, call or visit your local Office of Public Assistance.
EXPEDITED SERVICES
The intent of expedited services is to make food benefits available within seven calendar days of the application date to eligible households who meet the following criteria:
Households with less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in liquid resources; OR
Migrant or seasonal farm worker households with $100 or less in liquid resources; OR
Households with a combined monthly gross income and liquid resources less than the household's monthly rent (or mortgage) and utilities.
FINANCIAL CRITERIA
INCOME
Households who meet the gross and net income standards listed below may participate in SNAP.
Households who meet the gross monthly income standard are then evaluated for the net monthly income standard after allowable deductions have been taken into consideration.SNAP INCOME LIMITS
October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010
http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/h...ndex.shtmlRESOURCES
Resources of individuals that meet the Expanded Categorical Eligibility criteria are excluded. If all members of your household meet Expanded Categorical Eligibility criteria all household resources will be excluded. In order to determine if members of your household meet this criteria please contact your local Office of Public Assistance.
If the household does not meet Expanded Categorical Eligibility criteria, countable household resources cannot exceed:
$3,000 for households that include a member age 60 or over, or include a disabled household member, and
$2000 for all other households.
The home you live in, vehicles, tax-preferred educational and retirement accounts, and combat-related military pay are excluded as resources.
Households in which all household members are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance, tribal TANF cash assistance, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are not subject to a resource limit.
DEDUCTIONS
Allowable deductions for SNAP are listed below. The following deductions can be subtracted from countable income when determining a household's SNAP benefits:
Twenty percent (20%) of the total gross earned income for each household;
A standard deduction of the net income limit based on the household size;
Certain dependent-care costs;
Legally owed and paid child support;
A percentage of shelter costs; and
A medical expense deduction can be allowed for the portion of non-reimbursable medical expenses that exceed $35 per month per household. This deduction is allowed for elderly and disabled household members.
[This message has been edited by Denise Selk (3/20/2010)]