Free Oregon Snap Change Report Form

1.WHAT IS THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE, SNAP (FOOD STAMP) PROGRAM?

The SNAP program (formerly the Food Stamp Program) is a federal program to help low- income households maintain proper nutrition by giving them a means to purchase food. Most SNAP households now receive Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. These cards are also known as Oregon Trail cards. These cards work like ATM or bankcards. You will be given a PIN (Personal Identification Number) to access the funds in your food stamp account.

Some SNAP households in Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah and Washington counties are eligible to receive SNAP benefits by direct deposit into a bank account as an alternative to receiving SNAP by EBT. This is available if everyone in the household is 65 or older or receives SSI.

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2.AM I ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP BENEFITS?

You are eligible for SNAP benefits if you are a U.S. citizen and your income is modest or low.

3.AM I ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP BENEFITS IF I AM NOT A U.S. CITIZEN?

If you are not a citizen, you might be able to receive SNAP benefits if you are a permanent resident, you entered the US lawfully, and you meet certain other requirements. Some lawful permanent residents can receive SNAP benefits immediately, while others may have to live in the US lawfully for five years before becoming eligible to receive SNAP benefits. Your immigration status at the time you entered the US will determine whether you are eligible for SNAP benefits immediately or whether you have to wait five years. Children under 18 years of age, and disabled adults who reside in the US lawfully are eligible for SNAP benefits without waiting five years. The non-citizen eligibility rules are very complicated. If you are a non-citizen and have questions about whether you are eligible for SNAP benefits, call the Public Benefits Hotline at 1-800-520-5292.

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4.ARE THERE FINANCIAL FACTORS I MUST MEET IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP BENEFITS?

To get SNAP benefits there are two financial tests you must meet.

This pamphlet is for general educational use ONLY. Consult an attorney for more information or advice.

It is not a substitute for individual legal advice. Please remember the law is always changing.

(1)Resource Test. Your total resources (checking accounts, savings accounts, stocks and bonds, equity in vehicles, real property, etc.) cannot be more than $2,000 per household. If there is an individual who is 60 years or older or disabled, their resources cannot be over $3,250.

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Some people are “categorically eligible”. That

means that the resource and the income tests don’t apply to you. You do not have to meet the

income or resource test if you receive certain other public benefits such as TANF (or any benefit or service funded by TANF such as child care, JOBS benefits, TA-DVS), SSI, or if your countable income is less than 185% of the federal poverty rate and you have received the Information and Referral Services pamphlet from DHS.

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(2)Income Test. You must meet the countable income (income before taxes are deducted from your check and after exclusions are deducted from your income) and adjusted income (income after deductions are taken) limits. If

there is someone over 60 or disabled or

“categorically eligible” (on TANF or receiving services under TANF, SSI, or has income that is less than 185% of the poverty level and has received a pamphlet about Information and Referral Services), then they only have

to meet the adjusted income limit.

OAR 461-135-0505; 461-160-0020 461-160-0400; 461-160-0430

If you are self-employed, there is a special income test to determine your eligibility for SNAP benefits. If you have any qualifying

business expenses you will have 50% of your gross receipts excluded from your income to determine if you are eligible for SNAP benefits.

OAR 461-145-0920, 461-145-0930

5.HOW MUCH WILL I GET IN SNAP BENEFITS?

Your SNAP benefits will be based on your household or family size and income. There are also deductions that you can get. The deductions will reduce the income that will be counted for SNAP benefits (and increase your SNAP benefits). The deductions that you may qualify for are:

(a)dependent care costs;

(b)for people who are 60 or over or disabled, medical and dental costs, including nursing care, attendants and housekeepers, assistance animal costs, medical transportation and lodging, medical insurance and co-payments, medications and medical supplies;

(c)an earned income deduction if your income comes from working;

(d)a standard deduction based on the number of people on your SNAP benefits grant;

(e)child support payments that you pay for a child not in your household;

(f)a shelter deduction for your housing and

utilities.

OAR 461-160-0400; 461-160-0415 461-160-0420; 461-160-0430

6.HOW DO I APPLY?

If there are minor children in your household or you are an adult without a disability and you do not have children in your household, contact your local

This pamphlet is for general educational use ONLY. Consult an attorney for more information or advice.

It is not a substitute for individual legal advice. Please remember the law is always changing.

(2)Work Requirements

To be eligible and maintain eligibility for SNAP benefits, you must accept offers of employment, even if it is temporary or part-time;

You must also maintain employment by not voluntarily reducing your hours below 30 hours per week, not quitting your job within 30 days prior to your application (or any time you receive SNAP benefits), and by not being dismissed for striking while a federal, state, or county employee;

If you are not already working,

you must lookfor a job or go to job search training classes, and accept job offers;

(3)You do not have to participate in the OFSET Program (the SNAP work search program) if you:

have a disability that prevents you from working;

are participating in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program;

are pregnant or responsible for the care of a child under 6 years old or a disabled person;

are a student attending high school or a training program or institution of higher learning at least half time;

receive unemployment benefits or have applied for them and you are required to register for work through the Employment Department;

lack adequate child care, transportation or have another serious problem that prevents you from participating in the OFSET Program.

are in the TANF program.

OAR 461-130-0315, 461-135-0521, 461-190-0310

8.WHAT IF I APPLY AND I AM DENIED SNAP BENEFITS?

If the Division denies your SNAP benefits application, they must send you a notice stating the reasons why. If you feel the decision is incorrect, you have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a hearing. In order to have a hearing, can just ask DHS for a hearing, but it is better to fill out and file a hearing request form.

To obtain this form go to your local DHS office and ask the receptionist for a DHS Form 443 (Administrative Hearing Request) or get it on

the Internet. (Go to www.dhs.state.or.us. Click on “Forms” at the top. Then click on “Find a

DHS Form.” Put in 443 for the number and click on “Search.”)

Immediately fill out the form and turn it back in to the receptionist. Ask the receptionist for a receipt to prove you turned in the form. To find out about your hearing rights, call the Public Benefits Hotline (1-800-520-5292) or your local Legal Aid office for possible advice or representation. Go to www.oregonlawhelp.org for a directory of legal aid programs.

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9.WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH MY SNAP BENEFITS ALLOTMENT?

You have a right to request that your worker show you how your SNAP benefits were calculated. You are entitled to certain income

This pamphlet is for general educational use ONLY. Consult an attorney for more information or advice.

It is not a substitute for individual legal advice. Please remember the law is always changing.

deductions for earned income that you report, child care and child support that you pay, and shelter costs. You should ask your worker to provide you with DHS Form 221 (SNAP Benefits Computation.) This is a computer- generated form that will show you how the DHS arrived at the allotment. Review this form carefully to determine that all information is correct and that you received the correct deductions. If you find any errors, notify your worker immediately and request a hearing.

10.HOW DO EBT (OREGON TRAIL) CARDS WORK?

When you are determined to be eligible for SNAP benefits, you will be sent an EBT card (also called an Oregon Trail Card). The SNAP benefits payment you are eligible to receive will be held in an account for you that can only be accessed with your EBT/Oregon Trail Card using your PIN (Personal Identification Number).

When you buy groceries at major supermarket outlets (Safeway, Fred Meyer, etc.), the check stand computer will automatically separate your food items from your non-food items. You will then slide your EBT/Oregon Trail card through the machine and enter your PIN. The machine will subtract the total amount for the food items purchased from your SNAP benefits account. You will need to keep track of how much you have left in your account.

Some smaller markets may still have to separate your food items from non-food items by hand, but they will still accept your EBT card.

11.WHAT IF I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY EBT CARD?

If you have problems with your PIN, accessing your funds, etc., you can call 1-888-997-4447 to discuss your problem. If you have problems with the amount put into your account, refer to section 9 above regarding disagreement with your SNAP benefits allotment.

If you lose your EBT card, call 1-888-997-4447 right away to report that the card is lost. You will have to call another 800 number to get a new card issued. That card will have your remaining benefits on it. If someone uses your card and takes your benefits, DHS will not put the benefits back on the card, so it is important to safeguard your card and your PIN number.

12.WHAT CHANGES DO I HAVE TO REPORT TO DHS?

Some changes must be reported when they happen. Other changes must be reported in the

6th month of your SNAP grant when you file your “Interim Change Report.” The changes that

you must report depend on the reporting system you are in. You should ask your worker about your reporting requirements and make sure you understand them.

Most people are in the “Simplified Reporting System” and must only report a change in

income that brings you over the income limit for the SNAP program. That must be reported by the 10th day after the month that your income goes up.

But, there are some changes that you should report because it will help you to get more benefits. Your SNAP benefits are based on your income and certain expenses, so if your income goes down, or your countable expenses go up, you can get more SNAP benefits. The countable expenses that you should report are an increase in your housing expenses, or you start paying

This pamphlet is for general educational use ONLY. Consult an attorney for more information or advice.

It is not a substitute for individual legal advice. Please remember the law is always changing.

This pamphlet is for general educational use ONLY. Consult an attorney for more information or advice.

It is not a substitute for individual legal advice. Please remember the law is always changing.