| The SNAP/food stamp
application has been shortened to simplify the application
process. When you print the SNAP/food stamp application from
this web site you will see that you have the application,
instructions on how to apply and the Family Resources Brochure.
You need to complete the application, sign it and submit
it to the DTA. You can fax or mail it to your local
DTA office or bring it to your local DTA office in person.
The sooner this form reaches the DTA office the better.
For some tips for filling out the
application, click here.
Starting in Spring 2005, in many cities you will be able
to apply for SNAP/food stamps online with neighborhood
agencies. Your online application will be submitted
instantly. You will be certain your application arrived
at DTA because you’ll have a confirmation code, as
well as a submission date and time.
The day that DTA receives your application is the day
that your application begins; you have just 30 days
to complete the application process. Even if you
do not get your EBT card until later, the amount of money
in your food stamp account will be calculated from the day
that DTA received your application. This means that if DTA
got your application on March 1st and you do not get your
EBT card until April 1st, your SNAP/food stamp account will include
money for the month of March.
If you bring your application to your local DTA office
in person, you will either meet with a caseworker that day
or be scheduled for an interview on a later date. If you
mail or fax your application to your local DTA office, you
should call in a few days to make sure they received it.
A caseworker will contact you to schedule an interview on
a later date. You can now request a face-to-face interview
waiver on the application (both paper and online), so that
you can have a phone interview instead of going to the DTA
office. To find out more about who
can ask for a face-to-face interview waiver, click here.
Always make a copy of any forms that you give to DTA. Make
a copy of your application before you mail it or bring it
to DTA. For some tips for filling
out the application, click here.
If you have an in-office interview: You
should bring all of your documents (also called verifications)
with you to the interview with your caseworker. You should
make two copies of the original papers. Give one set of
copies to DTA. Keep the originals. Also keep one set of
copies for yourself in case you need to give DTA this information
again later.
If you have a phone interview: You should
send copies of your documents by mail or by fax. You should
make two copies of the original papers. Send one set of
copies to DTA. Keep the originals. Also keep one set of
copies for yourself in case you need to give DTA this information
again later.
Make sure that you bring copies of your most recent
documents. For example, your pay stubs, utility
bills and other papers cannot be more than four weeks old
from the day that you turn in your application. Click
here to see a list of documents you'll need to give to DTA.
Your caseworker may ask you for more information about
yourself after you turn in your application and verifications.
For example, if you said that some members of your household
are not citizens and those people are applying for benefits,
DTA will need to see their alien registration cards (“green
card”). (Non-citizen household members who do not
want to apply for food stamps, do not need to supply any
information about themselves to DTA.) The caseworker will
let you know what information he or she needs.
Print the application
and other forms
|
English