Can I Collect SSI and Receive Food Stamps At the Same Time?

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program administers federal benefits to disabled individuals and families with low income and resources.  To qualify for SSI, one has to show a significant disability  preventing gainful employment and hold less than $2,000 in assets (not including a home, a cheap car, a retirement fund, or other basic necessities).  About half of SSI beneficiaries also participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as the “food stamp” program.  The US Department of Agriculture delegates food stamp regulation to the states.  ETBs, or Electronic Benefit Transfers, have taken the place of the traditional paper food stamps.  Food Stamp recipients now receive a debit card to cover purchases such as milk, bread, fruits, vegetables, etc.  

The eligibility requirements for Food Stamps is similar to the SSI regulations.  You can’t have more than $2,000 in non-exempt assets, you must be a US citizen or a legal resident that has lived in the country for five years or has children under 18.  SSI benefits don’t count as allowable income in the calculation for  Food Stamps eligibility and vice versa.  In other words, they don’t cancel each other out.  This means that if you’re already receiving SSI benefits, you have excellent prospects for receiving nutrition assistance as well.  Some states will even enroll SSI beneficiaries in the food stamp program automatically.  Only California denies Food Stamp eligibility to SSI recipients because a state supplement to the federal SSI benefits already provides for nutrition assistance.

If you think you qualify for food stamp assistance, contact your local welfare office to file an application.  If you’re denied benefits, you should contact an attorney right away.  The State of New Hampshire offers free legal advice and pro-bono referrals through various agencies.  You can consult New Hampshire Legal Assistance (www.nhla.org) to see what free legal services are available to you.

Some law firms will take on your SSI claim on a contingency basis.  A contingency is where the attorney gets paid at the end of the case when there is money available to pay for the work that has been done.  The SSI program regulates Attorney Fees and usually limits the fee to no more than 25% or the back benefits or $6,000, whichever is less.  In SSI and SSDI cases you only pay if you win.  

Articles contained here are not intended to provide legal advice, only providing general information. We encourage individuals to consult with an attorney regarding individual circumstances.