A couple of days ago, the Texas’ beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will complete its September disbursements, which can amount to as much as $1,691.
For those unfamiliar, the SNAP program, also known as the Food Stamps program, in Texas are generally distributed over the initial 10 working days of every month. So, by the end of this week, specifically on Friday, the last September payment will be processed. However, when each individual receives their payment is contingent upon their unique eligibility group number.
How Does the SNAP Program Determines These Amounts in Texas?
It’s based on the size of each recipient’s household. For instance, single-person homes receive $281. Meanwhile, families or households with eight members can expect to see a sum of $1,691. But, what if a family is larger than that? For every extra person after the eighth member, an additional $211 is provided, as detailed on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s website.
Income also plays a pivotal role in determining one’s eligibility. To provide perspective, a single individual mustn’t earn over $1,869 monthly to qualify. Similarly, a household of five has an earning cap of $4,465 per month.
Your Food Stamps Payment Didn’t Arrive? Here’s What to Do
If you didn’t receive your SNAP payment and yesterday was the last day, there could be several reasons for this. Here are some steps you can take to resolve the issue. The first step you should take is to contact your local SNAP agency. You can report that your EBT card has no benefits. The contact details for your local SNAP agency should be available on your approval letter. If you can’t locate this information, contact the SNAP benefits department at your local family or human services agency.
If you have been approved for Food Stamps and haven’t received your EBT card in the mail, you can ask your caseworker when you can expect to receive your EBT card. Now, if you received an approval letter from SNAP but no benefits were on your EBT card, you will need to contact the relevant department. In Texas, for example, you would need to contact Texas Health and Human Services. If you live in another state, you should call your state’s food stamp department or the state health department.
Recertification and EBT Card’s Status
You may not have received your SNAP benefits because you didn’t recertify your eligibility. You are required to submit your recertification paperwork before the end of your current certification period. If you failed to do this, your SNAP benefits may have been interrupted.
Furthermore, you’ll have you check if your EBT card is suspended, you should have received a written notification from your local SNAP agency up to 10 days prior to the suspension. The letter should contain information on how to reinstate your benefits. If you didn’t receive this letter, contact your local SNAP agency to have your access reinstated.
The US Department of Agriculture, which is in charge of EBT cards, states that you do not have to use up the entire balance by the end of the month. Unused benefits remain on the card for up to one year from the time that credit was issued.
If you’ve followed these steps and still haven’t received your SNAP benefits, you may want to seek advice from a legal aid organization. They can provide you with information and assistance on your rights and options.
How to Claim Your SNAP Funds in Texas
In Texas, SNAP beneficiaries receive a Lone Star Card, essentially an electronic benefit transfer card. As soon as the payment is processed, it’s directly loaded onto this card. It’s important to note that Texas enforces certain work guidelines for SNAP beneficiaries, specifically those between 16 and 59 years of age. They’re required to either be employed, be actively job hunting, or be enrolled in a sanctioned work program. Moreover, one cannot simply leave their job without a valid reason.
Tracing back its origins, the SNAP initiative was birthed in 1964 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s profound Great Society endeavors, via the Food Stamp Act. Its primary aim? To elevate the nutritional standards of low-income residents by aiding them with their food expenses.
However, while these funds provide assistance, there are stipulations on their usage. SNAP funds are strictly for food and non-alcoholic beverages. Hence, beneficiaries cannot splurge on extravagant items like tobacco or pay off unrelated bills. Lastly, while SNAP operates nationwide, including Washington, D.C., slight differences do exist between states regarding its implementation and rules.
What Should I Do if My EBT Card for Texas SNAP Is Suspended?
The first thing you have to do if your EBT card was suspended, is to sit and think for a few minutes and ideate about what actions could have caused this unfortunate fact. As we said before, the time for granting your food stamps may have expired and may require a recertification, and most likely the guys in Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) are willing to help you.
Have on hand and ready to provide certain documents that you will need, in case a recertification or correction of any error is necessary. The HHSC will inform you of any documents you need to submit, such as income verification, identity verification, or proof of address. Ensure you provide these documents accurately and within the specified timeframe.
If you think that the error is not yours, but was caused by the SNAP system, then you can start an appeal. You can request a Fair Hearing by contacting the HHSC. During the appeal process, you’ll have the opportunity to present your case and provide evidence supporting your continuing eligibility for SNAP benefits.