You must file an application in the county where you live or online. You may call or write the local Food Assistance Office and an application will be sent to you or come into the office and get an application and complete it while you are there. You may also print an application from this website, Food Assistance Division, complete it, fax, mail, or take the signed application to your county Food Assistance Office for processing. Once you have filed the application, you will be given or mailed an appointment for an interview with a worker.

Examples of information we need for all household members include proof of income, current proof of rent or mortgage expenses, proof of child care expenses, social security numbers for everyone in the household, and proof of obligated child support payments paid to someone outside the household.

The county department has up to 30 days from the date you turn in your application to notify you of a decision about your eligibility for food assistance. In some cases, if you have little or no income and resources, you may be entitled to expedited service and then a decision is made in 7 days from the date you turn in your application. You will be told when a decision will be made on your application when you are interviewed.

Food assistance benefits are put into an EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) account for you each month. You will receive an EBT card to use like a credit card at the grocery store.