Fact Sheet No. 27

~ Fact Sheet No. 27 ~
The Transition Off Welfare
FOOD STAMPS
For the Non-public Assistance Applicant

Even if you are no longer receiving Public Assistance, you may still be eligible for Food Stamps. By submitting an application for Non-Public Assistance Food Stamps, you can get important help in paying for your daily food and groceries.

Important Note

Individuals who lose their public assistance due to employment earnings should have their food stamp case automatically transferred to a Non-Public Assistance Food Stamp Center. Often this does not happen. In these cases, you must apply for food stamps separately and request a fair hearing to obtain any lost food stamps.

APPLYING FOR FOOD STAMPS

1 Go to the nearest Food Stamp office and ask for an application for Non-Public Assistance Food Stamps:

If you live in areas covered by zip codes 11211 or 11222, go to 185 Marcy Avenue (off of Broadway) in Williamsburg.
If you live in areas covered by zip codes 11206 or 11237, apply at the food stamp office located at 30 Thornton Street (near Woodhull Hospital).

2 Pick up an application and fill it out completely and truthfully:

Return the application to the Food Stamp Office as soon as possible (because food stamps are paid retroactive to the date of filing the application). When this office gets your application, they will schedule you for a face-to-face interview. This interview should happen within 5 business days of DSS receiving the application.

Go to the interview:

During the interview, the number of people in your Food Stamp Household, as well as your Household income and resources, will be evaluated. The amount of Food Stamps you receive will depend on this information. You will have to provide the social security numbers of everyone in the household, even if they are not applying for Food Stamps.

HOW LONG DOES THE APPLICATION PROCESS TAKE?

1 The Food Stamp Office must decide on your application within 30 days of the date you submit it. They will usually issue Food Stamps going back to the date of your application.

2 However, if you or someone in your household causes a delay, your application can be held open another 30 days. In this case, you will not get back benefits. If you delay completing the application for more than 60 days, your application can be denied.

What to do
IF YOUR APPLICATION IS DENIED

If your application is denied, you may request a fair hearing, but you must do so within 90 days of the denial. You can ask for a fair hearing by:
                                    1 calling (212) 417-6550, or
                                    2 visiting the Fair Hearing Office at 14 Boerum Place, Brooklyn
                                    3 faxing a Fair Hearing Request to (518) 473-6735

WE CAN Help!

If you live in North Brooklyn and need assistance, call the WE CAN Hotline at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A: (718)487-2300 or (800) 696-6778.

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