How do I apply for food stamps/SNAP?

The food stamp/SNAP office must give you an application on the same day that you ask for one. You may ask for it in person, over the phone, or by mail. You may also ask someone else to get one for you. The office must accept the form on the same day you turn it in, even if they cannot interview you on that day.

Fill in your name, address, telephone number, and as much other information as possible on the form. Make sure to sign it. Take or mail the form to the food stamp/SNAP office as soon as possible. A food stamp/SNAP worker can help you fill out the rest of the form during your interview. You can also submit an application online.

You can use NJ’s online calculator tool to see if you are eligible, and you can complete an online application at the NJHelps website. You’ll still need to have an interview and will need to submit verification for some of the information in your application.

Do I have to go the welfare office for an interview?

Not necessarily. While everyone must have an interview, most people who apply for Food Stamps/SNAP can have an interview over the telephone if getting to the office is a hardship for you. Applicants who are working, elderly or disabled are eligible for telephone interviews. You will still need to submit paperwork and documents to verify information, but this can be done by mail if you can’t get to the office.

How long does it take to receive food stamps/SNAP?

If you qualify for food stamps/SNAP, you should get them no later than 30 days from the date the office got your application.

If your household has little or no money and needs help right away, you may be eligible for expedited food stamps/SNAP. This means that the food stamp/SNAP office must give you food stamps/SNAP within seven days of the date you apply.

The food stamp/SNAP office will usually not interview you on the same day that you turn in the application. After you have turned in your application, the food stamp/SNAP office will give you a date for an interview. They will contact you by telephone or mail with an interview time and date. If you can’t make the interview, contact the food stamp/SNAP worker right away.

During the interview, a food stamp/SNAP worker will explain the program rules and help you complete any parts of the application that you have not filled out. The worker will also ask you for proof of certain information you have given. If you have trouble getting papers (documents) or information you need, the worker may be able to help you. If the papers are not easy to get, you may give the name of someone, such as your employer, who can confirm your statements.

How will I know if I am eligible for food stamps/SNAP?

After your interview, the food stamp/SNAP office will send you a notice. If you do not qualify for food stamps/SNAP, the notice will explain why. If you do qualify, the notice will explain how much your food stamp/SNAP benefit will be. It will also tell you how long you can get food stamps/SNAP before you must reapply.

If you think that your application has been wrongly denied or that you have not received the correct amount of food stamps/SNAP, you should tell the office. If they do not agree, you can ask for a fair hearing to challenge the decision. Contact your local Legal Services office or LSNJLAW^SM, Legal Services of New Jersey’s statewide, toll-free legal hotline, at 1-888-LSNJLAW (1888-576-5529) for more information.

Will I get stamps or coupons? How do I use food stamps/SNAP?

People who receive food stamps/SNAP don’t receive coupons anymore. Instead, the amount of the food stamps/SNAP is placed in an account. Food stamp/SNAP recipients receive a plastic Electronic Benefits Card, similar to an ATM card or a debit card. They then use this card at grocery stores and other places where food stamps/SNAP are accepted. The cost of the food is automatically deducted from the household’s food stamp/SNAP account.

I am working and my income changes every month. Do I have to go back to the food stamp/SNAP office each month?

Probably not. If you are working when you apply for food stamps/SNAP, you only have to report changes in earned income every six months, unless your income goes above the gross monthly income limit for your household size (see the Household Income Limits for Food Stamps/SNAP chart.) If your income goes above the gross monthly income limit, then you must report this change within 10 days. If you stop working, or start receiving income other than earnings, you will need to report that as well. If your income goes down, however, you can ask the food stamp/SNAP office to readjust your food stamps/SNAP to reflect the loss of income.

Every six months you will either get a letter for a recertification appointment, or you will receive an Interim Report Form by mail that you need to complete and send back by mail. It is very important that you complete that form and send it back as soon as possible after you receive it, so that your benefits continue. Keep a copy of the form and make a note of the day you returned it. If you have any questions about it, contact your caseworker.

Where can I apply?

Each county has at least one food stamp/SNAP office. The county offices are listed below. You must apply in the county where you live. You can apply in person at the food stamp/SNAP office, or you can call or write for an application. You can also ask someone else to get an application for you. Some food stamp/SNAP offices are open early in the morning or in the evening. After you submit the application, you (or your authorized representative) will need to go to the food stamp/SNAP office for an interview, unless it would be a hardship for you to go to the office. If it would be a hardship, the food stamp/SNAP office can arrange for an interview in your home or at another location.

New Jersey Food Stamp/SNAP Offices