What Do You Need To Know?
The Maryland Food Supplement Program is funded by the USDA (U.S Department of Agriculture). The program is also called the Food Stamp Program (FPS) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and it assists households with poor income to buy food items.
Program Goals
The main aim of the Maryland Food Supplement Program is to provide the underprivileged families living on a fixed budget with an opportunity to improve their food quality. It helps them add valuable nutrition to their diet by purchasing food that is healthy and nutritious. This leads them to live a healthy and self- sustaining lifestyle subsequently increasing the quality of life of the people in the state.
Working Process
The eligible families are linked with government agencies, nutritionists, and local community-based organizations. These organizations make sure the families are fully educated about the program so that they can approach the application process in a well-informed manner. This helps families to make adequate decisions to take full benefit from the largest hunger preventive program in the country.
The beneficiaries are provided with an electronic card similar to that of an ATM card which they can use in the various food stores approved by the government.
The amount of the benefit received by each household through the Maryland Food Supplement Program might vary depending on the need. Families with much lower income will receive a large amount to properly afford a sufficient diet. The state provides its citizens with several benefit programs therefore; it is advisable to look up other specific programs that are offered in your region.
Besides that, certain items cannot be bought using the EBT card like,
- Diapers for babies
- Hot food
- Restaurant food ( exception can be made for elderly or disabled individuals)
- Any kind of liquor
- Cosmetic items
- Live animals
- Cigarettes and non-food items
- Medicines
Are You Eligible?
The applicant needs to meet the following requirements to be able to apply for the Maryland Food Supplement program
- The candidate has to be a permanent resident of the state of Maryland to be eligible for the Maryland SNAP
- The candidate must have a US citizenship or be a legal alien to receive the Food Stamp benefits.
- The candidate must have a Social Security Number (SSN)
- The candidate must have a job (if the age lies between the age of 21-59 and doesn’t have kind of disability)
Other factors that are taken into account while evaluating the eligibility of the candidate for the Food Supplement Program include
- Number of members in the household
- Total gross income of the household
The amount of the maximum gross income level before taxes should be equal or less than,
| Size Of Household | Maximum Annual Income Level ($) |
| 1 | 16237 |
| 2 | 21983 |
| 3 | 27729 |
| 4 | 33475 |
| 5 | 39221 |
| 6 | 44967 |
| 7 | 50713 |
| 8 | 56459 |
In case, the household size is greater than 8 members, an additional amount of $5746 is considered per member. The amount of annual income level might change time to time depending on the changes in laws and regulations. Therefore, you should keep in touch with your local managing agencies to get recent information regarding the Maryland Food Supplement Program.
How To Apply?
There are multiple ways to apply for the Maryland Food Supplement Program. It is important to check your eligibility for the program before applying. The different methods you can use to apply for the program are
- Apply Online
You can make your application online by visiting the Maryland Health Connection where you will be provided with all the necessary information. This website provides easy and fast online services to the citizens of Maryland. It is important to fill the application as accurately and truthfully as possible because providing false information can lead you to penalties. Once the application is submitted you cannot change it hence it is advisable to be careful while filling out the application form.
Once you have filled out the application form you can return it to food stamp office either by email, mail or fax.
- Apply through the local office
Visit the SNAP’s Contact Us to find a food stamp office in your area. After you find an office you can submit the form by hand along with other required documents.
For Further Information
In case of queries or any extra data required, information about the Maryland Food Supplement Program is available on the Maryland Human Resources Department, Food Supplement Program page. The website provides information regarding the program policies and guidelines to applicants to help them get a better understating of the Maryland Food Supplement Program. This makes the applying process very flexible for the applicants who can use any of the above-mentioned methods to apply for the Maryland Food Stamp program.