Many Hoosiers find themselves in a position of wondering how to apply for food stamps in Indiana, something that some of them have never previously had to do. With the decrease in available jobs, food stamps have gained new popularity.
The Indiana food stamp program is also referred to as SNAP, though most Hoosiers still refer to it as the food stamp program. Gone are the days of paper vouchers that served as food stamps. They are now issued on a debit card. This tends to take some of the pain away from using food stamps as people in need are often embarrassed about being in need. The debit card offers a level of anonymity that was not previously available.
Gather information.
The first step in apply for the food stamp program is to gather together the necessary information. This will include a state identification card, such as a driver’s license, income verification forms, such as pay stubs and social security cards for all members of the household and. You will also need records and receipts for household expenses. You can actually apply for Indiana food stamps without this information, but you will need to know your income, assets and social security numbers for all members of the household.
Fill out the application.
There are a few different ways to fill out the application. You can go the Indiana website and download one, request one from your county Family and Social Services Administration or you can go pick one up in person. The process goes alot faster if you just go to the office and apply, but you are allowed to mail in applications as well.
Go to the interview.
After the application has been received and processed, an interview will be set up. I speak from experience when I say that you may need to call the office to learn about the appointment. There have been cases of people getting the letter about their appointment days after the actually appointment has passed.
Understand the way food stamps work.
In Indiana, food stamps are prorated. What this means is that if approved, the program will provide food stamps from the date of the application, providing that no appointments have been missed. Those who qualify for emergency assistance can receive food stamp funds in their account as soon as the day after the application was filled out and no later than 11 days after the application was filled out. This is due to assistance being provided within 10 days if the applicant qualifies for emergency funds.
Some Tips
Offer all of your outgoing funds for review. Some medical bills can be included in the overall picture. This is important to remember as you learn how to apply for food stamps in Indiana.
Have all of your paperwork ready for the interview. They cannot process the application fully without all of the correct documentation.
Ask about other resources. Social workers don’t always know exactly what you need, but they are usually a wealth of information when it comes to finding other resources in the community. Ask questions!
Reference: http://www.in.gov/fssa/dfr/2691.htm
