What You Need To Know
The Utah Food Stamp Program is funded by the USDA (U.S Department of Agriculture). The program is also called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Food Supplemental Program (FSP) in a different state and it assists households with poor income to buy food items.
Program Goals
The main aim of the Utah Food Stamp 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.
The 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 (Electronic Benefits Transfer) similar to 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 Utah Food Stamp 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 Utah Food Stamp Program
- The candidate has to be a permanent resident of the state of Utah to be eligible for the program
- The candidate must have 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)
- The total household bank limit should be under $2001
- If the candidate is sharing a household with a person, is a senior citizen or disabled then the current bank balance should be below $3001
Other factors that are taken into account while evaluating the eligibility of the candidate for the Utah Food Stamp Program include,
- Number of members in the household
- Total gross income of the household
The amount of the maximum gross income level before taxes should be equal or less than,
| Size Of Household | Maximum Annual Income Level ($) |
| 1 | 20609 |
| 2 | 27902 |
| 3 | 35195 |
| 4 | 42488 |
| 5 | 49781 |
| 6 | 57074 |
| 7 | 64367 |
| 8 | 71660 |
In case, the household size is greater than 8 members, an additional amount of $7293 is considered per member. The amount of annual income level might change from 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 Utah Food Stamp Program.
How To Apply
There are multiple ways to apply for the Utah Food Stamp 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 MyCase homepage where you will be provided with all the necessary information. This website provides easy and fast online services to the citizens of Utah. 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 the food stamp office either by email, mail or fax.
- Apply through the local office
Visit the Department of Workforce Service (DWS) to find a food stamp office in your area. You can go to the Office Search website. After you find an office you can submit the form by hand along with other required documents.
- Apply Via Phone
You can also contact the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS) at 1-800-331-4341 to request an application form for the Utah Food Stamp Program. The application will be either emailed or mailed to you
For Further Information
Information about the Utah Food Stamp Program is available on the Utah Food Stamp program in case of queries or any extra data required about the program. The website provides information regarding the program policies and guidelines to applicants to help them get a better understating of the program. This makes the application process very flexible for the applicants who can use any of the above-mentioned methods to apply for the Food Stamp program.