How to Apply for SNAP Food Stamps

Times continue to be tough for many of us, and your financial situation may now qualify you for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) also known as food stamps.

Even if you have been rejected previously, hardship caused by this ongoing Pandemic may make you eligible.

SNAP is the largest federal nutrition assistance program, and it’s FREE.

SNAP provides benefits to eligible low-income individuals and families via an Electronic Benefits Transfer card, which can be used like a debit card to purchase eligible food in authorized food stores.

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Find out if you are eligible for SNAP Food Stamps

To be eligible, households must meet certain bank balance limits. A household with someone over age 60 or a disabled member may have a higher bank balance limit.

Check one of these federal government website pages to check your eligibility for SNAP benefits:

Use this free tool to check your eligibility for SNAP benefits.
Use this free tool from the US Dept. of Agriculture to check your eligibility.

The next step is to contact the local SNAP office, since each state has its own application form.

New York City, because of its size, has its own SNAP offices.

Link to NYC locations in all five boroughs

How to apply for food stamps in NYC

You can apply online on ACCESS HRA.

Read the user guide for ACCESS HRA.

You can call the Infoline at 718-557-1399 to have an application mailed to you

You can pick up an application at a NYC SNAP center

SNAP Applicants can fax an application to MARU at 917-639-1111.

You can also print out an application and drop off at a SNAP center

If you are eligible, you will receive your benefits within 30 days.

These items can be purchased with SNAP benefits

Food or food products meant to be eaten by people
Seeds to grow vegetables and plants that provide food, such as basil or tomato
Baby formula, diabetic, and diet foods
Spices, herbs, pectin, shortening and other edible items used for cooking
Water and ice labeled for human consumption
Snack foods

These items can not be purchased with SNAP benefits

Prepared hot foods in grocery stores
Any prepared food (hot or cold) sold and meant to be eaten at the store
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco
Cleaning products, paper products, toiletries, and cooking utensils
Pet supplies
Items for food preservation such as canning jars and lids, freezer containers, or food wrapping paper
Medicines, vitamins, or minerals
Items for gardening such as fertilizer and peat moss

Other financial resources

Freelancers Union has created a Freelancers Relief Fund that will provide up to $1000 to freelancers experiencing financial hardship because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Playwrights Horizons has a terrific roundup of remote work and grant opportunities.

Forbes has a list of ways to apply for emergency funds such as the Covid-19 Freelance Aritst Resources site, the same one The Freelancers Union is working from.

Check this Coronavirus Resource Kit

NYC-DSA Covid-19 Mutual Aid and Organizing Response hub is from a local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Evelyn Kanter is a native New Yorker who has written for the NY Times, NY Daily News, NY Post, New York Magazine, and is a former on-air reporter for WCBS Newsradio 88 and WABC-TV Eyewitness News.