Learn How To Apply For Food Stamps With Our Guide

Learn How To Apply For Food Stamps With Our Guide

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Idaho SNAP food benefits are used to provide low income individuals and families with food assistance. Food stamps benefits, known nationally as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, are federally funded, though administered on a state-by-state basis. SNAP benefits in ID are governed by the Department of Health and Welfare. Benefits for food stamps program can be used to buy a variety of food items at the grocery store that will help keep the beneficiaries in good health. However, many non-food items are prohibited from being purchased with food stamps.

Idaho food stamps benefits enrollment is a simple procedure. Once complete, the SNAP beneficiary will receive an EBT card by mail. When the recipient has his or her benefits card food stamps can be used to shop for food at approved locations. To discover more about SNAP food benefits in Idaho or what food items can be purchased with benefits, read the following sections on this page.

Learn About Food Items You Can Purchase With SNAP In Idaho

Food stamps program benefits in Idaho can be used to buy most food items and non-alcoholic drinks. The food stamps benefits EBT card can be used to buy the following:

  • Dairy products
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Cereals and breads
  • Plants and seeds
  • Meat, poultry, fish and seafood

Idaho SNAP food benefits may be used to buy foods sometimes considered ‘junk food’ like snack crackers, candy, ice cream, soda pop and energy drinks. Luxury items like steak can be bought with food stamps as well. However, SNAP assistance cannot be used to buy hot meals, prepared foods and any items the recipient consumes at the grocery store.

Items You Cannot Buy With Idaho SNAP Benefits

Since the mission of the SNAP benefits program is to keep low income people in good health by providing affordable access to food, non-food items may not be purchased with food assistance. The Idaho food stamps program considers the following items to be ineligible:

  • Pet food
  • Vitamins and medicines
  • Cleaning supplies and other household items
  • Paper materials such as paper towels
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Tobacco products

While food stamps assistance can be used to buy living fish or seafood, living animals such as barnyard chickens or pigs cannot be purchased with benefits even if the animals will be used for food.

To further prevent benefits from SNAP from being used to buy ineligible items, benefits cards cannot be used at ATMs that are inside gambling facilities, adult entertainment businesses and liquor stores. Selling or trading an EBT card or using cash from the food stamps card to make purchases of ineligible items is a criminal offense.

Note: To learn more about food stamps, download our guide.

How long does it take to receive Idaho SNAP benefits after enrollment?

Enrollment in the Idaho food stamps program takes about 30 days to complete. In cases of very low income, SNAP benefits applicants may be enrolled in as little as seven days. The enrollment process begins by the SNAP applicant filling out the required form and submitting it to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. After completing an interview to confirm the applicant’s eligibility, he or she will be enrolled.

The food stamps benefits program will require all applicants to provide personal and important pieces of information about themselves. All Idaho SNAP applicants should be prepared to answer truthfully about their income, citizenship status and the number of people living in their household. Purposefully lying on the food stamps application is considered benefits fraud and can result in jail time.

Please note, all SNAP benefits recipients will have to be periodically re-evaluated to continue collecting food assistance. This will usually require the recipients to attend another interview by the Department of Health and Welfare.

Idaho EBT Card Overview

Once a food stamps applicant has been enrolled, he or she will receive an EBT card in the mail. The electronic benefits card is linked to the recipient’s benefit card for food stamps and can be used like a debit card at the grocery store or at an ATM. The Idaho food stamps card is named the Idaho Quest card in the state.

Each month, SNAP food benefits are deposited into the recipient’s account. Yet, if the recipient runs out of the SNAP benefits in his or her account, he or she will not be able to get another deposit until the next month. Also, if a benefits EBT card is stolen, any charges made on the card will not be reimbursed. All ID food stamps recipients should report a lost or stolen EBT card as soon as possible.

Learn About Delaware SNAP Benefit Amounts

Idaho SNAP benefits amounts are determined by many things. Mainly, the food stamps benefits recipient’s income and assets are the largest determining factor. Assets generally include bank accounts and property owned by the recipients. A recipient that has a low income but a large savings account may receive less benefits for food stamps than a low-income earner with no saving accounts. Also, the number of people in the recipient’s household is a factor for establishing monthly benefits amounts. Larger households tend to receive more SNAP benefits than smaller ones. Non-exempt adults must be working or enrolled in an employment program to secure their continued eligibility for the food assistance program.