You may be surviving on a low wage and need assistance to get basics: housing and food. The U.S. government does its best to cater to its citizens. In a bid to ensure that U S. citizens have decent living conditions, there are programs such as the food stamps program and Section 8.
You may barely be getting by and would like to find out if you can apply for both Section 8 and food stamps. Read on to find out your options.
What are Food Stamps?
Before we begin, let’s discuss what food stamp benefits are. Food stamps is the name commonly given to the government assistance program officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This program is a form of government assistance provided to low-income individuals and families in the United States to help them purchase food.
The program provides eligible recipients with a debit-like card that can be used to purchase eligible food items at participating retailers. The amount of SNAP benefits received is based on the recipient’s income, household size, and other factors. SNAP is intended to supplement a household’s food budget and help ensure that all members have access to enough nutritious food to meet their basic needs.
Can You Get Section 8 and Food Stamps?
As we’ve talked about in previous articles, the Section 8 housing assistance program exists to provide housing assistance to low income individuals and families. This program is run by the US Housing and Urban Development Department – or HUD for short. The Section 8 program provides vouchers to pay rent for eligible individuals and families who qualify.
You may be wondering if you can qualify for Section 8 vouchers when you already have food stamps. You may also want to apply for both Section 8 and food stamps. Are there any limitations when it comes to being a beneficiary of these programs? What would your options be? Before you exclude yourself from applying for a housing voucher and food stamps, it would be good to get informed.
Eligibility for Food Stamps
To be eligible for food stamps you must meet certain basic requirements, including:
1. Income requirements: The household’s annual income must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level. The income limit may vary based on household size and expenses.
2. Citizenship or immigration status: Applicants must be either U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or certain other qualified non-citizens.
3. Work requirements: Able-bodied adults aged 18-49 who are not responsible for a child under 18 must work at least 20 hours per week or participate in a qualifying work or training program.
4. Resources: The household’s assets, including cash, bank accounts, and property, must be below certain limits. The limits vary by state.
5. Other requirements: Applicants must provide certain information, such as Social Security number and proof of income, and cooperate with state agencies in verifying eligibility.
It’s important to note that eligibility requirements can vary slightly from state to state, so applicants should check with their local SNAP office for specific details.
Eligibility for Section 8 Housing
When applying for Section 8, you are to qualify and meet the need as reviewed by the housing authority. The application requirements for Section 8 will require that you provide information such as your name, age, contacts, Social Security number, criminal history, housing history, and your gross income.
Check out our complete guide to getting your Section 8 application approved fast
Section 8 and Food Stamps
The food stamps and housing programs are exclusively provided to low-income earners. Food stamps take the form of a type of income because you can use them in making purchases. However, the Department of Housing and Urban Development does not consider food stamps as earned income and the SNAP benefits you receive are excluded from income calculations when HUD is determining eligibility.
It is possible that if you receive food stamps it may increase your chance of getting a Section 8 housing voucher. However, there is no direct relationship between you applying for food stamps and for Section 8.
The main factor that would increase your likelihood of being a beneficiary of both programs is earning less than the set household income threshold and additional factors such as the number of dependents, your age, and citizenship or immigration status. The SNAP program mainly looks at your earned income and assets.
Both programs have their own set of requirements and if you do not meet the threshold, you will not qualify. You may have food stamps but you may not qualify to get a housing voucher. Also, if you have a housing voucher, this does not affect your eligibility to apply for food stamps.
Secure your Future
In the end, you certainly can apply for both Section 8 and food stamps. In fact, it’s probably a great idea if you qualify. You may be in a tough situation right now, surviving on a low-income wage. However, you can help to increase your changes that your future is brighter by applying for both the SNAP program and Section 8 housing.
If you are approved for both programs you will be in a much better position to succeed in the future.
Eligibility Requirements for SNAP and Section 8 Housing
Below we’ve outlined the basic eligibility criteria for both food stamps and the Section 8 Housing program.
| Eligibility Criteria | SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) | Section 8 Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Income Requirements | At or below 130% of the federal poverty level | 50% of median income or below |
| Citizenship/Immigration Status | U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or certain other qualified non-citizens | U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens |
| Work Requirements | Able-bodied adults aged 18-49 who are not responsible for a child under 18 must work at least 20 hours per week or participate in a qualifying work or training program | No specific work requirements, but household income cannot exceed 50% of the median income |
| Resources | The household’s assets, including cash, bank accounts, and property, must be below certain limits | No specific resource limits, but households must pay 30% of their income towards rent |
| Other Requirements | Applicants must provide certain information, such as Social Security numbers and proof of income, and cooperate with state agencies in verifying eligibility | Applicants must meet the program’s definition of family and provide certain information, such as Social Security numbers and proof of income, and pass a background check |
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