Show The U.S. Department of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, called Basic Food in Washington, helps people with low incomes make ends meet by providing monthly benefits to buy food. NEWS: Congress approved supplemental funding for recipients of food assistance due to the impacts of COVID-19. Food supplements have been issued since April 2020 and continue on a month-to-month basis with federal approval. You can learn more about these supplemental benefits here (Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Laotian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese). Washington state residents who meet: Legal immigrants who are not eligible for federal basic food solely due their immigration status may be eligible for the state Food Assistance Program. Applying for or receiving SNAP does not make you a public charge and will not be considered in a public charge determination. Learn more here. (Amharic, Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese, French, Korean, Lao, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese) ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS Some childless adults will need to participate in work activities in order to stay eligible for Basic Food. More information can be found on the ABAWD page. Your Basic Food benefits are based on your family size and income. Are you eligible? Try our online benefit estimator. Learn More About Basic Food Benefits: Check out this guide for more information about how to apply for and use Basic Food benefits (English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Somali, Korean, Laotian, Chinese, Cambodian) You can apply for Basic Food Assistance online, by phone at 877-501-2233 or at your local Community Services Office.
Please tell us if you need assistance with this site because you have a disability or don’t speak English. Free assistance is available. Contact the Family Assistance Service Center Number 866-311-4287 and/or the TTY number at 711. After the recorded message, you will reach an operator who can provide you with an interpreter.
The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) and its Office of Inspector General are aware of the sudden increase in reports of EBT card fraud as a result of card skimming. If your EBT card has been compromised, immediately call the EBT Customer Service line at 1-888-997-9444 to report the card as stolen. In doing so, the card will be deactivated, and a new card will be sent to you. Customers can also update their PIN number when calling the EBT Customer service line. You should also file a police report with your local law enforcement agency. To assist TDHS/OIG with investigations of card skimming fraud, also report the incident to the OIG fraud hotline at 1-800-241-2629. Unlike your typical bank card or credit card, funds cannot be automatically replaced. The Tennessee Department of Human Services is actively working with our federal partners to determine whether stolen benefits can be reissued. To prevent card skimming fraud, customers should only use card reading devices that do not appear to have been tampered with, paying attention to whether the machine has unusual damage, signs of glue marks around the card reader, an unusual keyboard, loose parts, and other unusual signs that the card reader may display.
Formerly referred to as “food stamps,” the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutritional assistance initiative administered at the state level. In Tennessee, SNAP is managed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). SNAP can be viewed as a bridge to help Tennesseans reach their full potential as self-sufficient contributing members of our community and economy. At TDHS, we administer SNAP with the belief that you can focus on work, school, and family wellness when you’re well-nourished and don’t have to worry about where your next meal will come from. Excelling at your job, training or higher education can increase career prospects, earning potential, and levels of self-sufficiency. These opportunities can help your family transition from today’s challenges into a brighter future tomorrow. Use the menu and information on this page to learn more about SNAP application, eligibility, EBT cards, emergency programing, and other related topics. Replacement SNAPThere may be occasions when a power outage causes households to lose nutritional resources and Replacement SNAP is needed. To learn more about replacement SNAP and related supports as they are made available, click here.
Following federal guidelines, SNAP functions by providing qualifying households with a grocery stipend for a set length of time called a certification period. During the certification period, benefits are distributed using an Electronic Benefit Card (EBT) Card. Similar to credit cards, EBT cards can be used at participating stores and online retailers to purchase groceries. The amount of SNAP granted and the SNAP certification period are based on a household’s resources and situation.
SNAP is available to households (individuals who live and prepare food together) that meet certain qualifications referred to as eligibility criteria. SNAP eligibility takes residency, age and relationship, citizenship, social security number assignment, employment, resource, income, and related deductions factors into consideration. These factors not only determine a household’s eligibility to receive SNAP but also determine if additional documents will be required for a household to maintain SNAP after SNAP approval. Failure to submit required documents such as change forms or Simplified Reporting Forms can result in the cancellation of SNAP benefits. Click Here to learn more about SNAP eligibility.
If you apply for SNAP benefits, you may need documents that show the following:
Having these documents ready for submission can help your application process go smoothly. You may also be asked to provide more information during an eligibility interview. Click Here to learn more about the application process and associated timelines. After You Receive SNAP ApprovalOnce you’re approved for SNAP, you may be required to submit additional forms or documents to maintain SNAP according to your SNAP classification. Failure to submit your documentation on time could prevent you from receiving SNAP, result in a termination of SNAP benefits or force you to restart the application process. To help you maintain your benefits after approval, we encourage you to Click Here to visit the Applying for Services page and view step-by-step instructions for receiving and maintaining SNAP in Tennessee. You can also use the links below to download a checklist to use as an “at home” guide to track the progress of your SNAP case and manage associated deadlines and document requirements.
PLEASE NOTE: TDHS has implemented COVID-19 precautions for all visitors entering office lobbies across the state. These guidelines will impact customers coming into state offices for scheduled in-person appointments. Guidelines include:
Some interview requirements have been temporarily waived for individuals receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits. Customers filing initial applications and recertifications are not required to visit an office provided their identity has been verified and all other mandatory verifications have been completed.
If you have questions, answers about SNAP are just a click or a call away. Visit a Questions Page Use Case Connect Chat With Us Submit an Inquiry Form Call the Family Service Center Find Us on Social @TNHumanServices Contact Your Local Office
Need help finding the right information? Click the chat icon in the red circle located in the lower right corner of this screen to find many answers related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP), Families First Program and contact information.
TDHS is currently reviewing and revising its SNAP policies in order to simplify, streamline, and ensure the documents reflect our current best practice. While the initial policy review and revision is conducted, there may be some conflicts or incongruence between some portions of the policy manual and the new or revised policies. If you have questions related to SNAP policies please email . View SNAP Policy Manual and documents by clicking here. The non-discrimination section of the SNAP Policy Manual has been replaced by 1.01 Civil Rights Complaints, Ensuring a Fair Quality ProcessTo ensure the SNAP application process is conducted fairly in accordance with federal guidelines, a SNAP Quality Control Review is in place. Click Here to learn more. USDA Nondiscrimination Statement In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; |