Texas Food Stamps Application FAQs

Have questions about the Texas Food Stamps Application or need help applying for SNAP benefits in Texas? If so, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will answer some of the most popular Texas Food Stamps Application FAQs.

We know many Texans have various questions regarding the Texas SNAP (Food Stamps) application process. To help address that, we decided to set up this Texas Food Stamps Application FAQs page to answer some of the most-asked questions regarding how to apply for Texas food stamps.

In addition, we will also cover what you need to apply, how much you will get if approved for benefits, the Texas SNAP income limit, how to keep your SNAP benefits, and how long the increase in extra Texas food stamps will last.

To get the answers to all these questions and more, continue reading below.

Texas Food Stamps Application FAQs

Quick Facts about Texas Food Stamps

Texas SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) helps low-income working people, senior citizens, the disabled, and others feed their families.

Eligibility and benefit levels are based on household size, income, and other factors.

Here’s what you need to know about Texas SNAP:

SNAP, is a state-administered federal nutrition assistance program.
Federal law sets forth the factors for eligibility and amount of benefits, while each state screens applicants, determines eligibility, and is responsible for record-keeping.
SNAP is an entitlement program, meaning everyone who meets the eligibility criteria will get benefits.
If you are approved for SNAP, your monthly benefit amount is credited to an Electronic Benefits Transfer card (Lone Star EBT Card).
This card is used as a debit card at participating grocery stores.
Individuals between the ages of 18 and 50 who are able-bodied adults without dependent children must be engaged in work or work-related activities for at least 20 hours per week or 80 hours per month to be eligible for more than three months of food stamps.

In Texas, SNAP benefits are managed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).

Who is on SNAP in Texas?

One out of every nine Texans receives SNAP Benefits.

More than 2.4 million Texas children receive SNAP benefits.

The total number of people on SNAP in Texas is 3.5 million, as of December 2021.

The Average SNAP amount in Texas is $340, as of December 2021.

Texas Food Stamps Frequently Asked Questions

Texas Food Stamps FAQs

Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Texas Food Stamps program.

Who is Eligible for Texas SNAP?

To be eligible for SNAP in Texas, a household must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Must be a citizen or legal immigrant
Must be a Texas resident
Your household income must be less than the food stamps income limits for your household size (see chart below)
With some exceptions, you must work or participate in an employment and training program

How do I know I am Eligible?

Benefit amounts are based on household income and expenses.

To see if your household’s income may qualify for SNAP in Texas, use the income limit chart below:

1. Look at the number of people in your household under “Family Size”.
2. Next, look at the number in the “Maximum Gross Monthly Income” column.
3. Does your household’s total monthly income before taxes fall at or below that
number?

If so, you may qualify for Food Stamps in Texas, depending on your housing and
other expenses.

Income Limit for Food Stamps in Texas

Income limits vary according to household size.

Households that contain no elderly or disabled individuals must meet both the gross (income before deduction) and the net income (income after allowable deductions) limits.

However, households that contain an elderly (age 60 or over) individual or a disabled individual must meet only the net income limits.

See the table below for both the net and gross income limits according to household size.

Here is the Texas Food Stamps Income Limit for 2022:

Texas SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2022
Effective October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022
Family size	Maximum Gross Monthly Income
1	$1,775
2	$2,396
3	$3,020
4	$3,644
5	$4,268
For each additional person, add:	$625

What is the Resource Limit for Texas Food Stamps?

To be eligible for SNAP in Texas, the following resource limit must be met, in addition to the income limits above:

Total household resources cannot exceed $5,000, including liquid resources and excess vehicle
value.
Liquid resources include cash on hand, money in checking or savings accounts, savings
certificates, and stocks or bonds.
The fair market value of one vehicle up to $15,000 is excluded, but any value above that level is
counted towards the $5,000 total resource limit.
$4,650 of the fair market value of a second vehicle is excluded, but any value above that level is
counted towards the $5,000 resource limit.
Fair market value calculation does not take into account the amount of equity that the household
has in the vehicle, but the actual value of the car.

How Much Will I Get in Texas Food Stamps?

How much in Texas SNAP benefits you get partly depends on the number of people in your household.

The table below shows you the maximum amount of benefits you may receive if you are approved, based on the number of people in your household.

Household Size	SNAP Maximum Monthly Allotment
1	$250
2	$459
3	$658
4	$835
5	$992
6	$1,190
7	$1,316
8	$1,504
Each Additional Member:	+$188

To find out exactly how much you can expect to receive in Texas food stamp benefits, use our Texas SNAP Calculator.

Can I get Texas Food Stamps Today?

If your family is currently in a difficult situation and you need emergency food stamps in Texas, you may be eligible for expedited processing of your application.

To be eligible for expedited processing for regular SNAP benefits, one of the following conditions must apply:

Resources of $100 or less, and you must make less than $150 a month.
Combined resources and how much you make a month are less than how much you made last month.
A family includes a migrant or seasonal farmworker who has $100 or less in resources and very
little income or income has terminated.

Additionally, those who qualify for expedited SNAP processing must also meet eligibility qualifications, such as income and citizenship requirements.

If you are found to be eligible for expedited SNAP, you will get benefits within 7 days of applying.

Regular benefits applications are otherwise approved within 30 days of applying.

How do I apply for SNAP in Texas?

There are four ways to apply for SNAP in Texas:

- You can apply for Texas SNAP online at YourTexasBenefits.com.
- If you do not have access to a computer or mobile device, you can call 2-1-1 (or 877-541-7905) and select Option 2 to apply by phone.
- You can also apply for food stamps at a Texas Health and Human Services local office.
- Additionally, you can print a Texas food stamps application, complete it, and mail it back to a local HHSC office.

You can mail your application to:

HHSC, PO Box 149024,
Austin, TX 78714-9968

Households in which all members are either older adults (age 60 and older) or people with disabilities are eligible to participate in the Texas Simplified Application Project (TSAP).

To apply for emergency SNAP in Texas, visit an HHSC benefits office or call 2-1-1.

What Documents Do I Need to Apply for SNAP in Texas?

If you are applying for any Benefit Program in Texas, bringing or sending copies of items that apply to anyone on your case might help the HHSC process your case faster.

Documents you may need to provide to support your SNAP application include:

ID for all adults in the family
All earned or unearned proof of income
Rental or mortgage statement
Utility bills
Medical expenses for households with elderly (age 60 or older) or disabled family members
Immigration status

Is there a Work Requirement to get Texas Food Stamps?

Yes. If you are between 16-59 years old, you must either work at least 30 hours a week or participate in SNAP Employment and Training.

The SNAP Employment and Training is a program by the Texas Workforce Commission.

You might be exempt from the Texas Food Stamps work requirement if you meet one of the following:

You are not physically or mentally fit to work, or you are participating in a drug/alcohol addiction treatment program
Currently, you are responsible for the care of a child under age 6 or a person with a disability
You are a student enrolled in school, college, or a work training program (some students must meet other eligibility criteria)
If you are a TANF recipient and have already registered for employment services
You have applied for or are receiving unemployment compensation
You are three to nine months pregnant

Will applying for benefits affect my ability to become a U.S. citizen or legal resident?

It depends on your situation.

If you are a refugee or have been given asylum, getting benefits will not affect your chances of getting a Permanent Resident Card (green card) or becoming a citizen.

Also, if you are not a refugee or have not been given asylum, you might want to talk to an agency that helps immigrants with legal questions before you apply.

Getting SNAP may not affect your immigration status or chances of getting a Permanent Resident Card.

However, if you get Medicaid long-term care services or TANF cash help, the benefits may affect your immigration status and your chances of getting a Permanent Resident Card.

How long will Texas SNAP Increase Last?

Texas SNAP benefits will soon increase by more than 25% – the largest single increase in the program’s history.

The Biden administration has announced a major increase in SNAP benefits.

This is the first time since 1975 that the food stamps program has seen a boost in purchasing power.

Unlike the 15% increase in food stamps that was approved from January – September 2021, the 25% increase in food stamps for 2021 is permanent.

This means that you will receive this benefit increase indefinitely if you qualify.

What Can You Buy with Texas Food Stamps/EBT?

According to guidelines established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers the food stamps/SNAP program, here is the list of items you are allowed to buy with your EBT Card.

What you CAN buy with a Texas EBT Card:

Foods for the household to eat, such as:

bread and cereals;
fruits and vegetables;
meats, fish and poultry; and
dairy products.
Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.

What you CANNOT buy with EBT Card:

Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
Any nonfood items, such as:
pet foods
soaps, paper products
household supplies
Vitamins and medicines
Food that will be eaten in the store
Hot foods

Are there items I cannot purchase with SNAP benefits?

Yes. SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase:

Any non-food items, including pet food, soaps, paper products, household supplies, grooming items, and cosmetics.
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
Any food that will be eaten in the store.
Vitamins and medicines.
Any food marketed to be heated in the store.

See further details on what you can and cannot buy with Texas SNAP.