Food help

Apply for food stamps (SNAP) for someone you care for.

Check whether they likely qualify, see what to gather, and get a filled-out application summary you can copy into your state's form. It takes about 15 minutes.

Nothing you type here leaves this device. This page has no account and sends no answers to AgeWinder or anyone else. Only you send the application, to your state. Don't type a Social Security number here; you'll enter it on the state's own form.

1Lock in today's date

Benefits are counted from the day the state receives an application. A state must accept an application that has just the person's name, address and signature, and you can finish the rest at the interview. If money for food is tight, file today and fill in details later.

State they live in

Applying for someone else? They can name you as their authorized representative on the application, which lets you apply, do the interview and shop for them. They (or their legal guardian) must sign that part.

2Check if they likely qualify

Uses the federal SNAP rules for October 2026 to September 2027 in the 48 states and DC. Your state may be more generous, and only the state can decide. Enter monthly amounts before taxes.

People who buy and cook food together (including them)

Is anyone in that group 60 or older, or getting disability payments?

Wages or self-employment, per month

Social Security, SSI, pension, VA, other income, per month

Rent or mortgage, per month (add property tax and home insurance)

Utilities they pay, per month (heat, electric, water, phone; not internet)

Out-of-pocket medical costs, per month (Medicare premiums, copays, prescriptions, rides to the doctor)

Paid care for a child or disabled adult so someone can work, per month

Child support they pay, per month

Cash, checking and savings combined

3Fill out the application

These are the questions every state asks. Fill in what you know; blanks are fine. You'll get a clean summary to copy into the online form, read from during a phone application, or attach to a paper form.

The person applying

Full legal name

Date of birth

Phone

Preferred language

Home address (or "no fixed address" and where they get mail)

Mailing address, if different

U.S. citizen?

Disabled? (gets SSDI, SSI or VA disability)

Living situation

Working now?

Others who buy and cook food with them

Income, one line each

Who gets it, what it is, and how much per month. For example: "Social Security, $1,140" or "Pension from county, $310".

Anything else the caseworker should know

Authorized representative (if someone else is applying for them)

Representative's name

Relationship

Representative's phone

Can the representative

Ask for fast service if it applies

Ask for expedited (7-day) benefits. They qualify if income this month is under $150 and they have $100 or less in cash, or if rent plus utilities are more than their income plus cash. Ask for the interview by phone (states must offer this to people who can't easily get to the office).

Keep my answers on this device until I erase them

4Gather these documents

Copies or phone photos are fine. Missing papers don't stop you filing; the caseworker can help get them.

5Your application summary

Copy this into the state's online form, keep it next to you on the phone interview, or print it and attach it to a paper application. Signing and sending it is up to the person applying or their representative.

6After you send it

The state will call or write to set up a short interview, usually by phone. Answer unknown numbers for a couple of weeks.
The state must decide within 30 days, or 7 days for expedited service.
Benefits come on an EBT card that works like a debit card at grocery stores and many farmers markets.
Adults 18 to 64 who can work and have no child under 14 at home must work, volunteer or train 80 hours a month to keep benefits past 3 months, unless a disability or health condition exempts them. People 65 and older are exempt.
If they're denied or the amount looks wrong, they can ask for a fair hearing. The denial letter says how.