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Food & Nutrition
Georgia Food Stamp Program
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Pinterest In your state, the average household that includes an older adult gets
$96/month
in SNAP benefits. You could get more or less depending on your income and household size.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a lifeline that many older adults and young families use to help pay for food. Once you're approved to receive SNAP benefits in Georgia, the government will issue your funds through an electronic benefits card (or EBT card).
An EBT card looks and works like a prepaid debit card, and can be used at grocery stores or at some online retailers to buy foods that are SNAP-eligible. Many farmer's markets throughout the country also participate in SNAP, and you can use your EBT card there as another form of payment. In Kentucky specifically, some farmer's markets have a grant that allows you to double your EBT dollars, making them go twice as far. Make sure to ask prior to making a payment.
Frequently asked questions
- What is SNAP?
- What is the process?
- Am I eligible?
- How do I prepare?
- How do I apply?
- What happens after I apply?
- How can I get help with my application?
What is SNAP?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps people who are struggling put food on their table. Formerly known as Food Stamps, SNAP allows many older adults, people with disabilities, and others to stretch their budget further. This is because the money they would have spent on food can now be applied toward other critical needs—such as utilities, prescriptions, and medical bills.
What is the process like in Georgia?
While you may think applying for SNAP is too complex or time-consuming, it isn’t as difficult as you might expect.
The process you could expect when applying for SNAP:
- Submit your SNAP application, along with required documents.
- Conduct your SNAP interview with the Georgia Department of Human Services’ Division of Family & Children Services (or DFCS).
- Await your SNAP benefits decision. Once everything's clear, DFCS will send you a decision letter. (within 30 days of your filing date but could be longer. Review letters are normally mailed out by the 25th of the month.)
- Use your EBT card to purchase food at grocery stores, qualifying online retailers, and at farmer’s markets. (5 to 7 days to receive your EBT card after approval)
If you choose to apply online, you have the option to choose how you want to receive notifications from DFCS, including by mail, email, and text messages. We recommend selecting the “US Mail and Email and Text Message” option to ensure that you receive all notifications regarding your Georgia SNAP benefits decision. If you don't have an email, consider asking a family member or friend if they are willing to receive emailed notifications on your behalf.
How do I know if I'm eligible?
The amount of money you will get depends on:
- Money you get from your job or other income you receive, like Social Security
- The size of your household (or people who live together and purchase and prepare food together)
- Any assets you have (for example, cash or property.)
The following chart are maximum monthly income limits that most people or families can earn and still be eligible for SNAP in Georgia. However, you might be able to have more income and still qualify. The only way to know for sure if you are eligible is to apply. You can use the site you’re currently on to check your eligibility, just scroll to the top of this page and click the button that says ‘See If You May Be Eligible”.
| Family size | Maximum monthly income in Georgia |
|---|---|
| 1 | $ 2,430 |
| 2 | $ 3,288 |
| 3 | $ 4,144 |
| 4 | $ 5,000 |
| 5 | $ 5,858 |
| For each additional person, add: | $ 858 |
You may also qualify for expedited SNAP benefits in Georgia if:
- Your household has less than $150 in income this month AND $100 or less in cash and bank accounts
- Your total gross income and cash and bank accounts are less than your rent/mortgage and utility costs this month
- You are a migrant or seasonal farm worker
How do I prepare to apply?
While applying for SNAP in Georgia, you’ll be asked for important information to help decide if you are eligible and the amount of SNAP benefits you get.
Before you start, be sure to gather the following to make your Georgia SNAP application process easier:
- Proof of Identity: Such as your driver’s license, birth certificate, or passport.
- Proof of Georgia Residency: Something with your address on it, such as your driver’s license, a utility bill, or a lease rental agreement.
- Proof of Citizenship: This can be your Social Security card, immigration status, or original Medicare card. It’s important to note that SNAP eligibility has never been extended to undocumented non-citizens, but other lawfully present non-citizens may qualify.
- Proof of Household Income: Documents showing how much you earn, like a pay stub or bank statement. This would include if you are receiving a pension, social security benefits, etc.
- Proof of Household Expenses: Documents that show proof of eligible expense deductions. These include housing bills, utilities, child or dependent adult care expenses, and medical expenses. Note that if you are unhoused and applying for SNAP, there's a homeless shelter deduction of $179.66 you can claim even though you don't have housing/utility bills.
Other information you may be asked to provide:
- If you have an informal lease—for example living with a family member but contributing to expenses and/or paying rent—you must have the property owner/person whose name is on the utility bills write a statement confirming that you are contributing to housing expenses.
- If you are traveling frequently for medical care or have been told by a doctor you need to take a particular over the counter medication/supplement, DFCS can provide you with a form to itemize those expenses. Ask your local DFCS office for the appropriate expense reporting form.
- If you are under 65 and not disabled, you might be asked to submit a form indicating you are fulfilling a work requirement.
- If you are enrolled in a program that provides a non-taxable stipend—for example, AmeriCorps Seniors—you may be asked to provide your Title 45 letter, indicating that funds received from the program can’t be counted as income or affect eligibility for SNAP benefits.
- If you moved to Georgia from another state where you were previously receiving SNAP benefits, you must make sure your DFCS case is closed in your previous state before applying for Georgia SNAP.
Certain bills can reduce the income DFCS counts when trying to decide how much you should receive each month. The following expenses could get you get more SNAP funds but you’ll need to provide a bill or proof of payment:
- Electricity
- Gas
- Water
- Trash/Sewage
- Phone
- Home insurance
- Property tax
- Rent
- Mortgage
- Health insurance premiums
- Medical and/or prescription copays
- Medical bills
While you may be worried about sharing your personal information, you should know that SNAP applications are protected by special security technology that keeps your information 100% private.
How do I apply?
There are two ways to apply for SNAP in Georgia. Read below to learn more about which option might be right for you.
How to apply online
- Visit the Georgia Gateway at gateway.ga.gov.
- Start your Georgia SNAP application by selecting "Apply for Benefits." When you hit apply, the Georgia Gateway will prompt you to set up an account, where you can save your application and come back to work on it later, or log into and check the status of your application after it's been submitted. If you have already been approved for SNAP benefits and need to review, click "Manage My Account/Login" to start your renewal.
- Log into your account after you've completed your account creation.
- Select "Apply for Benefits" and then select "Food Stamps (SNAP)". While you're here, you can also apply for other benefits, including medical assistance (MA), Child Care and Parent Services (CAPS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Note that approval for these additional programs will be based on your proof/required documentation to show eligibility.
- Upload the required documentation at the end of the application.
- You will receive a tracking number to check the application's status.
While applying online, you can file a “short application” for SNAP in Georgia with just your name, address, and signature at any point in the application by clicking on the “Finish and Submit” button, however DFCS encourages you to answer as many questions as you can.
How to apply through mail
- Get a form from your local county DFCS office (or Department of Families and Children Services) or by downloading it from the site you're currently on by clicking 'Application Form' towards the top-right of this page.
- Fill it out and then either mail it back or hand it in to your local DFCS office. Some offices have separate mailing and physical addresses, so be sure to choose the correct one. And don't forget to include any required documentation.
After your application has been received, a caseworker from DFCS will review it. They will call your primary number to conduct your SNAP interview. This interview is just to double-check the information that you already provided. If they need more information or documents, they'll let you know. Once your interview is completed, DFCS will finish processing your application and send you a letter indicating their decision, along with your monthly benefit amount if you've been approved. You’ll also get an EBT card for buying food and instructions on how to activate it.
Important Tips
- Reaching DFCS: The DFCS office can be quite busy. If they schedule a time to call you, it's crucial to pick up. Rescheduling can be tricky.
- Your Caseworker: To find out who your caseworker is, contact your local DFCS office or call 1-877-423-4746. If you want a new caseworker, you’ll need to contact your local County DFCS Director, however this request may or may not be approved.
- Send Documents Promptly: If DFCS asks for more info or documents, send them quickly. Delays from you could lead to being denied SNAP benefits, delays in receiving your assistance, or the amount you receive each month could be reduced.
- Non-Deductible Bills: Costs like car insurance, cable TV, groceries, and internet don’t count in reducing your income.
- Receiving Your Review Letter: If you received your review letter past your appointment date, contact your local DFCS office right away to inform them of the mail delay. Once you do this, you can request that your review appointment be rescheduled.
How can I get help with my application?
There are multiple options available should you need help filling out your Georgia SNAP application.
You can:
- Call 706-549-4850 to talk to Louise Platter at the Athens Community Council on Aging (this only applies if you live in the Northeast region of Georgia).
- Go to your local library or senior center to find help. Note that they have no say in when your application is reviewed or what your benefits decision might be.
- Visit your local county DFCS office (or Department of Family and Children Services) in person if it's hard to reach them by phone.
- Go to a Benefits Enrollment Center, if there's one near you. See if there's one in your area. Find a Benefits Enrollment Center near you.
NCOA also has a HelpLine that you can call to get free support. To get started today, call 1-800-794-6559.
What happens after I apply for SNAP in Georgia?
It can take up to 30 days for DFCS (or the Department of Family and Children Services) to check your application. Response times vary based on the number of supporting documents. While they’re reviewing your application, someone from DFCS will call to interview you to confirm your information. This is to make sure your application is complete, correct, and ready for approval. You MUST complete the interview to receive SNAP benefits.
You can expect to answer questions like:
- What is your full name and birthday?
- What is your Social Security number?
- Where do you live? (You can still qualify if you are houseless.)
- Are you a U.S. citizen? (You may still qualify if you are a noncitizen.)
- What is your monthly income?
- Do you pay utilities, such as an electric bill or cable TV bill?
- What other regular bills do you have?
If you miss DFCS’ call, they will leave a message indicating when they are calling back. Be sure to keep this second appointment. Rescheduling calls with DFCS can be difficult and time consuming. If you do not complete the interview, your application will be denied, and the case will be closed. This will happen regardless of your eligibility. If your application is denied for this reason, we recommend that you submit a new Georgia SNAP application.
Additional Information That May Be Helpful
Activating your EBT card
When you receive your EBT card, you will need to activate it by calling the number on the back of the card and selecting a PIN. The automated system can be confusing. The recorded message uses the word “child” even though the number is a general line for all SNAP recipients. When the recording says child, know that it means you/the SNAP recipient.
Some examples you might encounter:
Automated voice: Please enter the birthdate of the child you are calling about.
Should be interpreted as: Enter your birthdate.
Or
Automated voice: Please enter the ZIP code of the child’s home address.
Should be interpreted as: Enter your ZIP code.
Once you have activated your card and created a pin number, you can use your card at any store that accepts SNAP dollars to purchase qualifying food items.
Keeping Your Benefits
You must renew your benefits when DFCS notifies you that it is time. Be sure to pay attention to any notices you may receive. Senior SNAP benefits do not always have to be renewed yearly, but DFCS will send you a notice when a renewal is required. DFCS will send a second notice if you do not renew after the first one. If you miss your renewal date, DFCS does offer a 30-day grace period. If you see your case listed as "closed", be sure to still submit your renewal. If more than 30 days have passed, you'll need to submit a new application. You can complete your renewal by mail using the paper renewal or by logging into your account at Georgia Gateway.
Unless your income situation has changed, your renewal will just consist of verifying that the information DFCS has on file is accurate. The renewal must be submitted by the date listed on the notice or your benefits may be delayed, or you may have to reapply for SNAP.
The only document required to renew benefits, provided your income and assets have not changed, is one that verifies residency. This can be a utility bill, ID with your current address, among other forms of proof.
Frequently Asked Questions
See What Key Benefits Programs You May Qualify For
BenefitsCheckUp can help you assess whether you can get help from programs before you apply. Answer questions anonymously to find out if you may be eligible for key benefits programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicare Savings Programs, Medicaid, Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS) - Extra Help, among others.
