Easy Steps on How to Get Hawaii SNAP Benefits & The Eligibility Criteria
– Hawaii SNAP Benefits –
Hawaii SNAP Benefits: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Hawaii (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) lets you and your family buy food for good health. Many grocery stores and other retailers which sell food will buy food.
If you meet the guidelines for the program you will receive a special debit card (called an EBT Card). This debit card also comes with a certain amount of money on it to pay for food.
The amount of money you get on the card may depend on three things:
- household income from all sources (earned and unearned) such as money you get from a job, Social Security, SSI, or interest
- how many people live in your household
- where you live
In most grocery stores, some community centers, and a few meal delivery programs like Meals on Wheels, you can use the token. It just acts like a normal debit card.
Using the card you buy your food, and the expense is taken out of the card’s overall number. More money is put on your debit card on a monthly basis.
What’s the Hawaii EBT Card?
- EBT = electronic benefits transfer.
- EBT card = a card that looks and works like a debit or credit card but is loaded with food stamps and/or cash benefits. You can use it at stores that accept EBT.
- You’ll get the Hawaii EBT Card once you’re approved for benefits.
- Hawaii’s EBT customer service number is 1-888-328-4292.
What’s the Income Limit for food stamps?
Use the chart below to see if your household is making less than the monthly gross income limit.
Net income factors in deductions and taxes, which is a complicated process. And if your household income is below the gross limit, you will try to find out if it is above the net limit.
Effective from October 1, 2019, through January 30, 2022.
| Household size | Gross monthly income limit* | Net monthly income limit | Max benefit |
| 1 | $1,558 | $1,199 | $356 |
| 2 | $2,109 | $1,622 | $654 |
| 3 | $2,659 | $2,045 | $936 |
| 4 | $3,209 | $2,469 | $1,189 |
| 5 | $3,760 | $2,892 | $1,412 |
| 6 | $4,310 | $3,315 | $1,695 |
| 7 | $4,860 | $3,739 | $1,873 |
| 8 | $5,411 | $4,162 | $2,141 |
| Each additional member | $551 | $424 | $268 |
_* If your household includes an elderly (60+) or disabled person, a higher gross income might still qualify._
Eligibility Criteria
You must be a resident of the state of Hawaii for this benefit program and fall into one of two groups: ( 1) those with a current bank balance (savings and checks combined) below $2.001, or (2) those with a current bank balance (savings and checks combined) below $3.001 who share their household with a person or persons 60 years of age or older, or with a person with a disability (a child, your spouse, etc.).
To qualify, you must have an annual (before tax) household income that is below the following amounts:
| Annual Household Income Limits (before taxes) | |
| Household Size* | Maximum Income Level (Per Year) |
| 1 | $19,084 |
| 2 | $25,779 |
| 3 | $32,474 |
| 4 | $39,169 |
| 5 | $45,864 |
| 6 | $52,559 |
| 7 | $59,254 |
| 8 | $65,949 |
*For households with over eight people, add $6,695 per additional person. Always check with the managing agency to ensure the most accurate guidelines.
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How to Apply
You should print and fill out the application form by hand to qualify for the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP), and submit it to your local office. You can also use the online application to type in your replies, print the completed form, and mail it to your local office afterward.
There’s no way to apply your application online. To see if you should apply by phone, call your State Hotline at (855) 643-1643.
How do I get my Benefits?
If you are eligible for SNAP, you will be mailed a Hawaii Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. To check the balance of your card, you can click here.
FAQs
Can I get food stamps if I’m not a citizen?
Non-citizens whose citizenship status is suitable are eligible for food stamps. Skilled aliens include refugees, trafficking victims, Cuban and Haitian immigrants, special-status Iraqi and Afghan immigrants and more.
Can I get food stamps if I’m homeless?
Yes. To apply for food stamps you do not need to have a mailing address or rent. When you live in a shelter that gives you free meals right now, you can always apply for food stamps.
Do I qualify for food stamps?
To figure out if you qualify for food stamps, Hawaii needs to know your:
- Household size: How many people you live and buy/make food with.
- Income: How much money your household makes. This includes both earned income (the money you make from jobs) and unearned income (cash assistance, Social Security, unemployment insurance, and child support, etc.).
Can I get food stamps if I have a drug felony conviction?
Yeah. If you are eligible for food stamps, you will not be disqualified by Hawaii because of a drug felony, but you may have to join a treatment program. For more details call your local office or the Hawaiian SNAP hotline: 1-855-643-1643.
Can I get more food stamps if I’m pregnant or a new parent?
Your household size will increase once your kid is born. More Members of the family = more benefits. You can’t get more food stamps when you’re pregnant but you can apply for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits. WIC offers care and services for pregnant mothers, new parents and children up to age 5.
Who counts as a member of my household?
Anyone you live and buy/make food with counts a member of your household.
- You may live with people who don’t count as household members, like tenants who are renting a room, or adult children (22+) who buy/make their own food.
- Children (under 22) always count as household members, even if they buy/make their own food.
- Elderly (60+) and disabled people count as household members if you buy/make food for them, or you buy/make food together. If they live with you but buy/make food separately, they do not count as household members.
Can I get food stamps if I’m unemployed?
Yeah, as long as you’re not leaving a job or deliberately raising your hours to apply. If you are not working or working less than 30 hours a week, you might be required to take part in an employment and training programme. There are some exceptions which apply. For more details , please visit your local office or call the Hawaii SNAP hotline: 1-855-643-1643
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