The Mississippi Department of Human Services announced in recent days that the waiver of the interview requirements for the SNAP benefits program (formerly known as food stamps) will be terminated, reinstating that requirement from now on.
Since June 2023, the SNAP benefit applicants were not required to undergo pre-interviews with the program’s social workers, but that exemption will expire on April 30, 2024. To qualify for this financial aid, people who work and receive wages that are below a certain threshold, and those who are unemployed or working part-time may qualify. Those who receive TANF, SSI and similar benefits can also apply for SNAP benefits.
Other populations that qualify are elderly, disabled and people who have reduced income due to different circumstances. To access SNAP benefits, the family must meet eligibility requirements, which include income and resource limits, and now, the interview is mandatory to qualify.
SNAP Benefits: The Interview Compliance Requirement Will Be Reinstated
The MDHS states that the elimination of the waiver and the reinstatement of the interview requirements are part of its efforts to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the SNAP program in the state of Mississippi: Applicants will now have to re-participate in interviews conducted by the program’s social workers, in which information will be collected that verifies eligibility and provides support and resources to determine that people really need the money.
During the SNAP benefit interviews, we seek to understand each applicant’s situation in order to fairly and accurately determine the food aid they need. Social workers seek to learn from the life of the people who apply: they scrutinize different aspects such as the monthly income of the family, such as salaries, pensions, disability benefits or other income, as well as the available resources such as bank accounts, property or other assets that may influence eligibility are reviewed. In addition, the family composition is investigated, including details such as the relationship between household members, their ages, and their current employment situation.
Another key aspect is the evaluation of monthly expenses, where information is requested about the cost of living of the household, such as rent or mortgage, utilities, childcare, medical care and other expenses necessary to maintain an adequate standard of living.
In addition, special circumstances that may impact eligibility are taken into account, such as the presence of disabilities, pregnancies, significant medical expenses or recent changes in the financial situation of the applicant family or individual.
How to Apply for Food Stamps in Mississippi?
To qualify for SNAP benefits, you should have an income that is below certain thresholds, in order for the funds to go to those families that really need it. The table of income thresholds is as follows (as of the last data available at mdhs.ms.gov)
| Household Members | Maximum Monthly Income (before taxes) |
Maximum Monthly Income (after taxes) |
Maximum Monthly Benefit Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,580 | $1,215 | $291 |
| 2 | $2,137 | $1,644 | $535 |
| 3 | $2,694 | $2,072 | $766 |
| 4 | $3,250 | $2,500 | $973 |
| 5 | $3,807 | $2,929 | $1,155 |
| 6 | $4,364 | $3,357 | $1,386 |
| 7 | $4,921 | $3,785 | $1,532 |
| 8 | $5,478 | $4,214 | $1,751 |
| 9 | $6,035 | $4,643 | $1,970 |
| 10 | $6,592 | $5,072 | $2,189 |
Some of the documents you will be required to provide include (but are not limited to):
- Proofs of income:
- Check Stubs
- Statement from employer
- Benefit award letter from Social Security, SSI, Veterans Administration,
- Unemployment Compensation, etc.
- Business records for self-employed
- Lay off or termination notice
- IRS 1040 Form – for self-employment
- Records of income received from child support
- Resources:
- Checking or savings account(s)
- Current bank statements including balances
- CDs, stocks and/or bonds
- Rent/Shelter and Utility Expenses:
- Current rent, lease or mortgage documents
- Current receipts/statements including amount of rent and/or utility expense
- Statement from landlord
- Current property tax statement
- Insurance on property
- Statement from US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Other documents:
- Social Security numbers of the household’s members
- Proof of relationship
- Childcare or daycare receipts or statements from provider
- Statement from a licensed physician or medical personnel in a public health or outpatient clinic
- Documents of properties owned
- Documents related to trust funds
- Alien status
- Medical expenses (for those over 60 years old, or receiving SSI or SSDI benefits)
