How to Apply for Food Stamps in PA

The U.S. government’s main food assistance program is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or “food stamps.”

This federal program is administered in Pennsylvania by the PA Department of Human Services. SNAP is a public benefit that you can use to help you and your family pay for food. Most low-income households are eligible for SNAP benefits, which are automatically placed on their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card each month.

Below is information on how Just Harvest can help you access SNAP benefits as well as Frequently Asked Questions about shopping with, qualifying for, applying for, and maintaining SNAP benefits.

Get help with getting SNAP

PA Dept. of Human Services has contracted Just Harvest to provide free SNAP eligibility screenings and streamlined application assistance to residents of Allegheny County. Our decades of expertise enable us to help you with all of your SNAP/food stamps questions, problems, and concerns.

Just Harvest’s Food Stamps Team can:

accurately and efficiently submit a SNAP application for you – saving you time, hassle, and stress while ensuring your privacy.
assist you with annual re-certifications; and
provide case advocacy regarding unfairly denied, terminated, or incorrect benefits.

Navigating the food stamps benefits system can feel discouraging or overwhelming at a time when your life is already hard enough. But you can count on our knowledgeable and compassionate team to help you at any point in the process.

If you live outside of Allegheny County, please visit this page for information on applying for SNAP elsewhere in PA, or visit this page for help with SNAP in another state.

How can I qualify for SNAP?

You are eligible if:

• You are a resident of the county where you are applying for benefits.
• All household members must have a Social Security Number or apply for one.
• You are a U.S. citizen or a qualified non-citizen meeting the other eligibility rules. (Learn more about SNAP eligibility rules for immigrants here.)
• You meet the work requirements for able-bodied adults. (These are currently suspended in Pennsylvania.)
• You meet the income guidelines. (See the chart below.)

Can I qualify even if…

• I own my own home? YES!
• I own a car? YES!
• I work? YES!
• I have savings? YES! PA has opted out of the food stamp asset test, which prevented people with more than one car or a certain level of savings from applying for food stamps.
• I am a student? YES! Students can be eligible if they meet other requirements.
• I receive unemployment, SSI, WIC, Medicaid, or other benefits? YES! You can still receive SNAP benefits even if you receive other benefits.
• I live with others? YES! A household is defined as anyone you buy or share food with. If you live with someone that you do not buy or share food with, they will need to sign a “purchase and prepare” statement.
• I am not a US citizen? YES! All refugees are eligible for SNAP benefits. Adults who have been permanent residents for 5 years and all children who are permanent residents are eligible. If you are not eligible for yourself, but you have children who are US citizens or permanent residents, you can apply for your children. Everyone you are applying for must have a Social Security Number. Learn more about SNAP and immigration.

Income Limits:

To qualify for SNAP benefits, your household has to meet certain income guidelines. First, your income has to be below the gross income limits listed in the chart below. Gross income refers to all of your earned income (like wages and salaries) and all unearned income (like public benefits, child support, and social security) before any taxes or deductions are taken out. If your household has just one or two people in it, and your gross income is below the stated limits, then you should qualify for at least the minimum benefit of $23 per month.

Households of 3 or more must have an income that is below the gross income limits and have high enough countable expenses (“deductions”) that they qualify for a benefit when the benefit amount is calculated. The deductions used in calculating your benefits are based on your family size as well as these expenses:

• Shelter Costs: rent, mortgage, property taxes, and/or homeowners insurance
• Utility Allowance: a standard amount that is subtracted based on which utilities you pay
• Child Support and Child Care so that you can work
• Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses for anyone who is age 60 or older, or has a disability

To calculate whether your gross income and your deductions might qualify you for SNAP, you can use our SNAP eligibility screening tool.

SNAP Income Guidelines in Pennsylvania (Oct. 1, 2023 – Sep. 30, 2024)

How much in SNAP benefits am I entitled to?

The amount you get in SNAP benefits is based on your income and eligible deductions. The minimum benefit amount for households with just one or two people is $23 each month. The maximum benefit amounts are provided in the table above. You can use our SNAP eligibility screening tool to see how much you might qualify for.

Receiving SNAP can also help you qualify for other benefits and discounts.

How do I apply?

1. 1. COMPLETE AN APPLICATION FORM
      • If you want free help determining whether you are eligible for food stamps and/or applying for benefits, contact one of our food stamp specialists at 412-431-8960 (option 3).
      • You can also apply online through the COMPASS website or contact the PA Dept. of Human Services.
   2. SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION
      • Generally, SNAP applicants need to provide proof of who they are, where they reside, who they live with, the last 30 days of income (or more if your income fluctuates a lot), and expenses. Many of these items can be verified by self-attestation or through matching data sources.  DHS mails each applicant a specific list of what items they need to verify based on the information on your application. Documents can be uploaded using the MyCOMPASS PA mobile app,  e-mailed, mailed, faxed or dropped off at County Assistance Offices. To have your application finished sooner, you should provide documents as soon as possible.

PLEASE NOTE: The PA Dept. of Human Services has currently suspended all interviews for SNAP applications and recertifications through July 1, 2024. If there is something unclear on an application and they need to contact the households, a caseworker may try to call you. If they are unable to reach you, they will ask for you to provide paperwork verifying the missing information.  The County Assistance Offices (CAO) will be able to process expedited benefits without contacting the household.   If you receive a notice that an interview is required, it is because the state was planning to restart interviews earlier, but was able to get an extension to waive SNAP interviews until July 2024.

What if I’m in a financial crisis?

If you are in an emergency situation, make sure you tell the Dept. of Human Services County Assistance Office. You may qualify for “expedited benefits,” which means that you can receive your SNAP/food stamp benefits within five days.

You can qualify to get SNAP sooner if your household:

• has less than $150 in monthly income and less than $100 available in cash, or
• has housing and utility costs for the month that are more than your income, or
• includes only migrant or seasonal farmworkers with less than $100 cash.
• Note: DHS cannot issue these benefits without completing an interview first.

How do I continue to receive SNAP benefits?

Most households need to report any household changes semi-annually (every six months) and be recertified for SNAP/food stamp benefits every 12 months. PA Dept. of Human Services will automatically mail you a Semi-Annual Reporting Form (SAR) and an annual renewal packet.

Learn more about PA rules for maintaining your SNAP benefits