Frequently Asked Questions

Questions received at llaflin@fchn.org may be posted below.

Food Assistance

FAQs > Food Assistance > Question

Q: How do I apply for food stamps?

You will need to go to your local Department of Health and Human Services to apply for food stamps. Below is information that explains what you will need to bring with you and how to use your food stamps.

What are food stamps?
Food stamps are for low-income families to provide nutritious food for themselves and their family.

How does your family qualify for food stamps?

You may qualify for food stamps if you:
Have little or no income
Are unemployed
Work for low wages
Receive public assistance
Are elderly or disabled and live on a small income, and have limited resources

Your household must meet certain income and resource limits. The amount of food stamps you receive also depends upon the number of people in your household. Food stamps are only intended to be part of your food budget. Most households must spend some of their own cash along with their food stamps in order to buy enough food for a month.

How do I apply for food stamps?

Go to the local Department of Health and Human Services office, ask for a food stamp application.
You may also ask for a food stamp application over the phone or by having someone else pick one up for you.

Where are the local DHHS offices located?

Franklin County: 114 Corn Shop Lane, Farmington, Phone: (207) 778-8400 or 1-800-442-6382, Hours: Monday-Friday 8-5 p.m.

Androscoggin County (Livermore/Livermore Falls Residents): 200 Main St., Lewiston, Phone: (207) 795-4300 or 1-800-482-7517, Hours: Monday-Friday 8-5 p.m.

Kennebec County (Vienna residents): 221 State St., Augusta, Phone: (207) 287-3707

What happens after you turn in the food stamp application?

If you qualify, you will receive food stamps within 30 days. If your household has little or no money and needs help right away, you may qualify for emergency services, and you may get your food stamps within a few days.

What do you have to bring with you when you are applying for food stamps?

Some form of identification
Address-where you live. If you have no address, tell the food stamp office where you stay.
Income for ALL household members. This includes gross earnings before deductions.

You may be asked for more proof if any of the following apply:

Immigration status- Lawfully admitted alien status for each alien household member.
Current utility bills- If you claim utility costs in excess of the standard utility allowance.
Cost for baby sitting, day care or attended care- while searching for a job, training for work or working.
Medical expenses- Non-reimbursed costs over $35 a month for any person aged 60 years or older or disabled.

Qualify
The food stamp office will send you a letter. The letter will explain how much in food stamp benefits you will receive. This letter will also tell you how long you will be getting your food stamps before you need to reapply.
Unless you get your food stamps within a few days because you qualify for emergency services, you will get your food stamps no later than 30 days from the date you applied.

Don’t Qualify
The food stamp office sends you a letter that tells you why. If you think that your application was incorrectly denied or you did not receive the correct amount of food stamps, you should tell the worker at the food stamp office. If the worker does not agree with you, you can ask to have your case reviewed by a fair hearing official.

Is it important to report changes to the food stamp office?
Yes, it is important you report your changes in circumstances affecting your eligibility so your household receives the right amount of food stamps.

How long do you have to report a change to the food stamp office?
You must report changes in your circumstances 10 days after they occur.

What types of changes do you need to report?
Income changes
Another child in the household
A child moves from the household
Address change

How do you report a change?
A change report form
By letter
By telephone
In person at your local office

What happens if you don’t report a change and those changes put you over the amount for the guidelines?
If you receive extra food stamps because you did not report changes, you will have to pay the value of the food stamps back.

How do you use food stamps?
Cards that look like credit cards
Buy eligible food in authorized retail food stores

How will you know how much is on your food stamp card?
By calling the number on the back of the card (1-800-477-7428) and following the prompts.
On each receipt that you get back from the store.

Types of food that you can buy with food stamps
Breads and cereals
Fruits and vegetables
Meat
Fish
Poultry
Dairy
Seeds and plants that produce food for households to eat

What are non-food items you cannot buy with food stamps?
Pet food
Soap, paper products, and household supplies
Beer
Liquor
Cigarettes (or any other tobacco product)
Vitamins and other medicines
Food that will be eaten in the store

What to bring with you when applying for food stamps:
Form of identification (i.e. driver’s license, Social Security card, or State I.D.)
Social Security Number
Address of where you live, mailing address (if different from your street address)
Proof of residence
Wage stubs or copies of them from the last 4 weeks (if you don’t have copies of them the DHHS office will make copies of them for your file)
Recent tax return (if self-employed)