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FOOD STAMPS (FS) 2.5

The Food Stamp Program (FS) is administered at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The program is intended to provide monthly benefits to low-income households to assist them in purchasing food needed to maintain adequate nutrition. Congress established the Food Stamp Program in 1964, and later enacted the Food Stamp Act of 1977. In 1996, Congress passed PRWORA which, along with creating TANF and eliminating AFDC, implemented major changes in FS, including a limit on the number of months that an able-bodied, non-elderly, unemployed adult without children can receive FS. The District currently has a waiver of this provision and thus does not impose time limits on able-bodied, non-elderly, unemployed adults with no children.

In the District, paper 'food stamps' or coupons have been replaced by EBT. EBT allows beneficiaries to use a magnetic-striped plastic card, similar to an ATM or debit card, to withdraw their benefits electronically at participating grocery stores and market. No coupons or cash are disbursed and nothing is exchanged. When a FS recipient uses an EBT card at the food store, the FS benefits are deducted automatically from the beneficiary's FS account and transferred to the food vendor electronically. The District's EBT card is called the Capital Access card, and it also allows eligible beneficiaries to access TANF benefits electronically at ATM machines and certain other retail stores. Grocery stores that display the QUEST logo have been FNS certified and their checkout terminals are setup to process Capital Access transactions.

In order to receive FS benefits, all non-exempt adults in the household must participate, in an employment search, work, or related activities (see Chapter 1: Work Requirements in Part V). Each applicant household member who is not exempt will register for the Food Stamp Employment and Training (FSET) program at the time of application and every 12 months after initial registration.

Benefit Provision 2.5.1

The amount of FS benefits that eligible individuals and households can receive is based on USDA's Thrifty Food Plan budget, household income, and the number of eligible members in the household. Eligible households can receive FS benefits of up to a maximum of the USDA's Thrifty Food Plan budget. Certain income is not counted when determining eligibility and benefits. Certain households must also pass an 'asset test' to be eligible for Food Stamps.

FS benefits, unlike TANF or GC benefits, can only be used for the specific purchase of food staples, limited to the following:

 any staple foods, including meat, poultry, fish, bread, cereals, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. Staple foods do not include accessory food items, such as coffee, tea, carbonated or non-carbonated drinks, candy, condiments, spices, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, hot foods, or hot food products for immediate consumption;  seeds and plants for use in home gardens to produce food for the personal consumption of eligible individuals;  in the case of eligible individuals over sixty years of age or those receiving SSI, disability, or blindness benefits, meals prepared by and served in eligible federally subsidized centers and residences;  In the case of eligible individuals over sixty years of age or who are physically or mentally handicapped, meals prepared and delivered to them at home by a public or private nonprofit agency or through a contract with the Department.  in the case of drug and/or alcohol dependent eligible individuals, meals served in drug and alcohol treatment programs or residential facilities;  in the case of women and children residing in domestic violence shelters, meals prepared by and served in the domestic violence shelters; and