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Questions & Answers
General Food Stamp Questions
Eligibility
The Application Process
Food Stamp Program Details
If I get Food Stamps, am I taking benefits away from others who need them more?
No. There are enough food stamps for everyone. If you get food stamps, you will not be taking them away from others. The Food Stamp Program is an entitlement program which means everyone who is eligible for food stamps has a legal right to get them.
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Can I get food stamps even if I am not on welfare?
Yes! You can get food stamps even if you do not get any other benefits from the state.
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Can people who leave the Reach Up program still get food stamps?
Yes! Your food stamps should not automatically stop if you stop getting Reach Up. Food stamps are different from Reach Up benefits, so even if you are no longer eligible for Reach Up, you may still be able to get food stamps.
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Can a woman living in a domestic violence shelter get food stamps?
Women and their children living in a shelter may be able to get food stamps, even if they received food stamps as part of their former household that same month.
If you are living in a shelter, the food stamp office will look at your income, resources, and expenses. The food stamp office will not consider the income, resources, and expenses of your former household.
The food stamp office will not count any of your resources that are held jointly with your former household. Any room payments you make to the shelter will count as shelter expenses. This will help you get food stamps.
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Can I get food stamps if I don't have a permanent address?
Yes. You do not need a fixed address to get food stamps. You will need to give the food stamp office an address where you can get mail. That can be a shelter, church, or a friend's house, or the food stamp office.
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Can students get food stamps?
A student is someone in a business, technical, trade, or vocational school or college half time or more (use your school's definition of halftime). If you are in school less than half time, these rules do not apply to you, and you can get food stamps based on the regular rules.
If you are in school half time or more, you can get food stamps if: -
You are 17 or younger or 50 or older; or
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You have a disability; or
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You receive Reach Up; or
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You are in the JOBS program; or
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You participate in work study; or
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You work at least 20 hours a week for pay; or
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You are in an on-the-job training program; or
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You take care of a child under age 6; or
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You take care of a child age 6 - 12; or
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You are a single parent in school full time and responsible for the care of a dependent child under 12; or
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You are in school through:
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Workforce Investment Act
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Employment and Training Program
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A Trade Act Program
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Employment and training program for low income households operated by State or local government.
If you are in school half time or more and none of these statements apply to you, you cannot get food stamps
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Do I have to go to the food stamp office for an interview?
Most people meet with a worker at the food stamp office for an interview, but you can get food stamps even if you can't get to the food stamp office. If you can't get to the food stamp office, you can: -
have a friend or relative go for you; or
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ask to talk to a worker on the phone or at your home.
You should be able to talk to a worker on the phone or at your home instead of at the food stamp office if you have a good reason. A good reason might be if:-
You are 60 or older or have a disability, cannot get to the food stamp office, and do not have a friend or relative who can go for you; or
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You do not have transportation; or
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You have health problems or are taking care of someone else in your household who has health problems; or
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You live far away from the food stamp office; or
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The weather is bad for a long period of time; or
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You cannot get time off from your job.
If you think you have a good reason to have your interview by phone or at your home but the food stamp office says you must come in to the office, call Vermont Legal Aid toll-free at 1-800-889-2047.
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If I live with other people, do we have to apply for food stamps together?
It depends. The general rule is that you must apply for food stamps with the people you live with if you buy food and make meals together. If you live with other people but you buy food and make meals separately, you may be able to apply for food stamps on your own.
Some people who live together must apply for food stamps together, even if they do not buy food or make meals together, including: -
spouses and civil union partners
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parents and children 21 and younger
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children under 18 who live with and are financially dependent on an adult who is not their parent.
If you live with other people and buy food and make meals together but you want to apply for food stamps on your own, you can start buying your own food and making your own meals. Then you can apply for food stamps separately from the other people in your house.
There is a special rule for people who are 60 years or older who live with other people. If the older person cannot buy food or make meals alone because of a disability, this person and his or her spouse may be able to apply for food stamps separate from the other people in the house.
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How often do I have to reapply for food stamps?
It depends on your situation. Most people will have to reapply for food stamps every 6 months. People 60 and older and people with disabilities usually have to reapply every year or every 2 years.
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What can I do if the food stamp office does something that I think is wrong?
If the food stamp office does something you think is wrong, you can talk to your worker or your worker's supervisor or you can call your local Community Action Agency, Agency on Aging, or Vermont Legal Aid toll-free at 1-800-889-2047 for help. Sometimes the food stamp office makes mistakes, so if you have questions, it is a good idea to talk to someone about your situation.
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What should I do if my application for food stamps is denied?
If the food stamp office says you cannot get food stamps, you can: -
Ask for a hearing if you think the food stamp office is wrong. On the back of the letter you get from the food stamp office, there will be information about how to ask for a hearing.
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Get legal advice. If you think the food stamp office is wrong or you have questions about your application, Vermont Legal Aid toll-free at 1-800-889-2047 can answer your questions and may be able to help you with an appeal.
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Apply again if your situation changes. For example, if you get laid off and have less income, you may be able to get food stamps even if you were denied before. You can apply again at any time.
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How can I find out how much money is left on my food stamp card?
You can call the Vermont EBT Customer Service Line at 1-800-914-8605 to find out how many food stamps you have on your card. The call is free.
Another way to find out how many food stamps you have on your card is to look at your last receipt. When you buy food with your card, your receipt will tell you how many food stamps you have left in your account.
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What happens to my food stamps if I do not use them all during the month?
If you do not use all your food stamps in one month, you will still be able to use them the next month.
If you do not use your food stamps at all for 3 months, your benefits will be taken out of your account. You can get these benefits back if you ask the food stamp office within 180 days.
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How long can I stay on food stamps?
There is no time limit. You can get food stamps for as long as you meet the income and resource limits.
Some adults without children who are able to work must work in order to get food stamps for more than 3 months.
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