Requirements for food stamps in West Virginia are determined by the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR). Eligibility for food stamps, as well as the dispensing of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, are helmed by the DHHR. To qualify for food stamps benefits in WV, all applicants must meet the SNAP requirements. Food stamps requirements revolve around household size, income, citizenship, residency and the ability to meet work standards. Applicants are expected to submit official documentation to support all of the above claims. In order to learn more about how to qualify for food stamps in West Virginia, continue on to the below sections.

Learn About West Virginia Income Requirements for SNAP Benefits

The income-based West Virginia food stamps requirements are highly important to consider, as the program’s core is based on assisting low-earning individuals and families in need of funds for food and groceries. Household size must be taken into consideration when looking to qualify for SNAP benefits in WV, which must then be compared to the current Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Income requirements for food stamp assistance are based on both gross and net earnings. However, households with disabled or elderly family members are exempt from the gross income test enforced.

In addition to income qualifications for food stamps, applicants must also review their current resources. Countable resources that are factored into SNAP eligibility in West Virginia include bank account balances, stocks and bonds and cash in hand, among other items. There are limits associated with assets, which are higher for households that contain disabled or elderly family members.

Deductions are also important to calculate when trying to qualify for food stamp benefits, as they will allow you to subtract certain expenses in order to reach the FPL threshold necessary to gain SNAP benefits in West Virginia. Deductions that assist with qualifying for SNAP in WV monetarily include:

• A 20 percent earned income subtraction.
• Child care expenses.
• Child support payments.
• Excessive shelter and utility costs.
• Medical expenses totaling more than $35 per month for disabled or elderly family members.

Download our free guide to review more information on requirements for SNAP.

Learn About West Virginia Citizenship Requirements for SNAP Benefits

Citizenship requirements for food stamps in WV also must be met in order to qualify for benefits. U.S. citizens seeking eligibility for food stamps must be able to prove their citizenship through official government documentation (birth certificates and passports are the most common documents presented). In addition, noncitizens who wish to qualify for SNAP benefits in West Virginia must supply immigration papers and any additional documentation regarding their legal presence in the country.

Once legal status is proven, SNAP requirements in WV mandate all applicants to confirm state residency. Since food stamps are distributed on a state level, you must be able to prove that you live in West Virginia before becoming a SNAP beneficiary. State-issued ID cards and drivers licenses will suffice in proving state resident eligibility for food stamp assistance, as will acceptable forms of mail showcasing your current residential address.

Social Security Numbers (SSNs) are also a WV SNAP eligibility factor for all applicants seeking food assistance. You and everyone else in your household must have an SSN to enroll in the food stamps program in West Virginia. Those who do not possess SSNs need to file for them with the local Social Security Administration office, and then submit proof of the filing to the DHHR.

Other SNAP Requirements You Must Meet in West Virginia

Additionally, to qualify for food stamps benefits in West Virginia successfully, you must be willing and able to work at least 20 hours per week. Those subject to these SNAP qualifications are Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) who are between 18 and 49 years of age. However, the work requirements for food stamp benefits in West Virginia allow for more than just traditional employment. To meet the work requirements for WV SNAP, you can also enroll in a job training or education-related program to satisfy this qualification. Those who are disabled or elderly are exempt from the work-based qualifications for food stamp assistance. If ABAWDs in West Virginia do not meet the work mandate for SNAP, they risk the revocation of benefits from the DHHR.

Applicants Who Are Not Qualified for West Virginia SNAP Benefits

Those who are still wondering how to qualify for food stamps in WV must take into consideration the groups that are never eligible for SNAP benefits, despite meeting all of the named criteria. Groups who are not eligible for SNAP in West Virginia will be denied food stamp benefits, so it is important to review ineligibility prior to applying for assistance. The following applicants will not qualify for WV food stamps:

• Students enrolled in school more than halftime
• Workers who are on strike who did not qualify for SNAP benefits the day prior to striking
• Those receiving simultaneous benefits fraudulently
• Convicted, fleeing or prosecuted felons
• Felons convicted of controlled substance charges after August 22, 1996
• Parole or probation violators
• Those accused of SNAP benefits trafficking

Download our guide to read more about food stamps requirements.