The U.S. government helps low-income people buy healthy food through SNAP, which is one of its main types of aid. The program is run by the Texas Health and Human Services (HHS), but it is controlled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the federal level.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is meant to help the weakest families get the food they need every month. The Lone Star Card, which works like a debit or credit card, is how beneficiaries get their help. It can be used to buy basic foods like meat, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products at stores that are allowed to accept them. There are some limits, though. You can’t use SNAP funds to buy things like tobacco or booze that aren’t necessary.
People who live in Texas can apply for SNAP benefits
The ceiling is higher for bigger families. Even if a family of five makes up to $4,832 a month, they can still get SNAP benefits. The income limit goes up by $707 for every extra person living in the home. This means that the aid can be used by families of all sizes.
How much money can you get from SNAP?
The amount of SNAP money a family gets depends on how much money they have and how many people live in their home. For example, a person who lives alone could get up to $291 a month. This means that a family of five can get up to $1,115 a month. Larger groups, like a family of eight, can get up to $1,751, plus an extra $219 for each person over eight.
The money is put on the Lone Star Card every month, which lets families buy food at participating shops and supermarkets across Texas. Food Stamps (SNAP) are an important way for families to get healthy food and keep their diets balanced.
When to pay for SNAP in September
People in Texas who get SNAP benefits get their money based on their Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number. This number tells them what day their money will be put on their Lone Star Card. The payment plan for September 2024 is shown below:
EDG 00-03: Sunday, September 1
EDG 04-06: Monday, September 2
EDG 07-10: Tuesday, September 3
EDG 11-13: Wednesday, September 4
EDG 14-17: Thursday, September 5
EDG 18-20: Friday, September 6
EDG 21-24: Saturday, September 7
EDG 25-27: Sunday, September 8
EDG 28-31: Monday, September 9
EDG 32-34: Tuesday, September 10
EDG 35-38: Wednesday, September 11
EDG 39-41: Thursday, September 12
EDG 42-45: Friday, September 13
EDG 46-49: Saturday, September 14
EDG 50-53: Sunday, September 15
EDG 54-57: Monday, September 16
EDG 58-60: Tuesday, September 17
EDG 61-64: Wednesday, September 18
EDG 65-67: Thursday, September 19
EDG 68-71: Friday, September 20
EDG 72-74: Saturday, September 21
EDG 75-78: Sunday, September 22
EDG 79-81: Monday, September 23
EDG 82-85: Tuesday, September 24
EDG 86-88: Wednesday, September 25
EDG 89-92: Thursday, September 26
EDG 93-95: Friday, September 27
EDG 96-99: Saturday, September 28
For people in Texas who get SNAP, the last two digits of their EDG number can tell them exactly when their money will be on their Lone Star Card.
What kinds of proof do I need to apply for SNAP benefits in Texas?
- Something like a driver’s license, photo ID card, passport, birth certificate, adoption records, or shot records can be used to prove who you are and your age.
- A birth certificate, service records, U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, permanent resident card, or green card are all examples of documents that show you are a citizen and legal in the U.S. People who aren’t members of the U.S. need official permission to live here.
- Show your Social Security Number (SSN) so the social worker can look it up. This could be a Social Security card or a photo ID with your date of birth.
- Proof that you live there and how much you paid for housing, like a recent rent receipt, lease, letter from owner confirming residence, or mortgage book.
- Proof that you have money on hand, like bank records for all of your checking and savings accounts, stock and bond certificates, and properties that you don’t use every day.
- You may need to show proof of all income sources for everyone in the family. This could be pay stubs from the last 30 days, a letter from the unemployment office, a child support order, your self-employment tax return, social security, disability, or a pension.
- Some examples of proof of costs are water, sewer, power, phone, home insurance, and child care costs.
- For people over 60, copies of medical records or bills for costs over $35 aren’t covered by insurance. This includes mental health, dental, or medical care, prescriptions, health assistants, service animals, insurance premiums, and transportation.
What can you get with SNAP money?
SNAP funds are meant to help families buy healthy foods that are important for a balanced diet. Foods like fruits, veggies, meats, dairy products, bread, cereals, and other basic foods can be bought.
There are, however, limits on what can be bought with SNAP cash. You can’t use your SNAP benefits to buy ready-made or hot foods, non-food items (like cleaning supplies), booze, tobacco, vitamins and supplements. When you shop with your Lone Star Card, it’s important to remember these rules.