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This video will review the most important things to know about food stamps when following up with Atlanta Legal Aid clients. What are food stamps? Food stamps, also known as SNAP, provide financial assistance for low-income households to purchase food. Why do we follow up on food stamps? Without follow up work, only 50% of Atlanta Legal Aid clients apply for food stamps, but with the help of Enhanced Services Project volunteers, 80% of clients apply for food stamps and 75% are successful in obtaining them. Which agency administers food stamps? The Division of Family and Children Services, or DFCS, is the agency that administers food stamps in Georgia. Each county has its own DFCS office. Who is eligible for food stamps? To receive SNAP benefits, households must meet certain income and asset limits, which vary based on household size. A household means everyone who lives together and purchases and prepares meals together. Eligibility rules include both gross and net monthly income limits and also allow for certain deductions. The description below this video includes a link to the USDA website, which lists allowable deductions and includes sample households. Households that include elderly people or those receiving certain types of disability payments only have to meet the net income limit. If all members of a household are 60 years or older and do not work, a simplified application process called Senior SNAP may be used. How does one apply? An application for SNAP benefits can be completed in one of three ways. It can be completed online through the Georgia COMPASS website. COMPASS can be accessed by visiting compass.ga.gov. Legal Aid mails a paper application to most clients, and it can be found in the client’s Legal Server file. Once completed, the client can mail or fax the application to their local DFCS office. Lastly, clients can visit their local DFCS office to submit or complete the application in person. What documents are required to apply? Non-senior applicants should provide proof of identity, such as a state ID or driver’s license, proof of US citizenship or qualified immigrant status, their social security number, proof of income, such as pay stubs, child support payments, and income award letters, and proof of expenses, such as rent, utilities, medical bills, and child care receipts. Senior applicants may use their Social Security award letter as their proof of income and identification. How long does it take to process the application? Food stamp applications must be processed within 30 days of the date the application was received. This is the “standard of promptness”. During these 30 days, applicants must complete an interview with a DFCS caseworker to provide more information about their household situation. People with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation for the interview to be completed over the phone. Senior SNAP applicants do not have to complete this interview. If there is an urgent need for food,...

Usually an application form is required to reapply for Food Stamp benefits. ... A Food Stamp redetermination is a reapplication for benefits.