Tennessee Food Stamp Qualifications
The food stamp program is a way to find assistance in paying for food related expenses for your household. Based on certain requirements families are then issued a monthly amount of financial assistance in which to put towards the expense of groceries. In the state of Tennessee the eligibility requirements or qualifications include such things as one's household income, number of household members, assets as well as other factors. An explanation of such requirements is set by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS).
Residency
To qualify, applicants need to be a U.S. citizen or qualified national/alien to receive such benefits. Applications need to have a social security number or proof of having applied for one in order to proceed with food stamp application process. There are some cases where legal immigrants are unable to receive food stamps, but their dependents may be eligible. Also applicants need to be living within the state in which they are applying.
Work
Those ages 16-59 and who are able to work would need to be registered for work and be participating in any employment training programs that may be offered within their area. Also, to be eligible those offered employment must accept such an offer and could not quit a job. Those who are 18 to 59 years old, and able to work but without dependents are only able to receive five months of benefits in three years. This is unless they work no more than 80 hours per month or determined by any other factors that would except them from the rule, which would be determined on a case basis.
Income
Eligibility for food stamps is also based on the income for the entire household. Wages through employment, self employment, any type of public assistance, unemployment, worker's compensation, child support, pension or any money collected through social security or Supplemental Security Income are counted when figuring this figure for the income of the household. Income can be figure through either the gross income (the total amount you are paid including what is taken out for taxes, etc) or by net income (the actual amount you bring home). A complete chart of household incomes and allowances can be viewed through Tennessee DHS at http://tn.gov/humanserv/adfam/fs-test.pdf. These figures are current from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010 and are updated every October, so if beyond that time frame figures may be subject to change.
Assets
The assets of the household are also considered when figuring eligibility within the State of Tennessee ($2,000 for average household or $3,000 for those with someone who is disabled or over the age of 60). Assets in this case do not include the home in which the family is living, retirement accounts or vehicles used for family transportation. Countable assets towards that household amount would include cash that family has readily available on hand or in bank accounts, stock and bonds, property that the family possesses and any type of lump-sum payments.
Other Factors
Individuals who are looking for assistance because of strike-related causes need to have been eligible based on their status before the strike took place. Most students need to work a minimum of 20 hours per week to be eligible, unless involved in a work-study program, raising dependents or receiving another other type of assistance, such as Families First. Those who have received felony charges related to certain drug-related offenses cannot receive food stamps. Also individuals found guilty of fraud will face probationary periods of no assistance up to three difference charges but after their third incidence of fraud will make themselves ineligible also.
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