Accessing City Services: How to Get Food Stamps

Every year, hundreds of New Yorkers call the Office of the Public Advocate to get help obtaining food stamps. Many are intimidated by bureaucracy, bewildered by eligibility requirements, or otherwise ill-prepared to access this needed service.

And no wonder: When Betsy Gotbaum was first elected Public Advocate, the food stamp application [pdf] was an intimidating sixteen pages long. In 2003, Gotbaum, along with a coalition of other advocates, successfully convinced the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) to reduce the application from sixteen pages to four and extend evening and weekend food stamp office hours for working New Yorkers.

The truth is, you can have a job or own your own home and still qualify for food stamps. Food stamps are a public benefit intended to help families buy food. Food stamp cards work just like debit cards: each recipient is given a “swipe” card, which is replenished monthly with a fixed amount of cash valid at most grocery stores.

In general, income, household size and some household expenses determine whether you qualify for food stamps and how much you are entitled to receive. To qualify for food stamps, gross monthly income for a family of 3 must be no more than $1,907. There are exceptions, though: If someone in your family is 60 or older, or is disabled, there is a moderated income test.

Applying for Food Stamps:

In person: Apply for food stamps at your local food stamp office. Call toll-free at 1-877-472-8411 or download a Food Stamps Brochure to find your local office.

By mail: You can submit your application by mail or authorize someone to apply for food stamps on your behalf. Applications are available at Food Stamp offices, or they can be downloaded. If you are homebound, you may call a special Food Stamps number: (718) 722-4800.

What you need: You must provide certain income, residency and other documents that have a bearing on food stamp eligibility. (Read the full list of required documentation here).

In general, if you are eligible, you will receive your food stamp card within 30 days. However, if there is a food emergency in your household, you may qualify for expedited food stamps. Call the Office of the Public Advocate at (212) 669-7250 to find out more.