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Food Assistance

    * Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, serves as the foundation of America's national nutrition safety net, working to end hunger and improve the health of low-income people by helping families buy the food they need for a nutritionally adequate diet.
    * Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) - EBT is the method South Carolina uses to issue Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
    * South Carolina Combined Application Program (SCCAP) - SCCAP is a program that DSS provides in conjunction with Social Security Administration. Under SCCAP, if you are eligible for SSI, you are eligible to receive SNAP benefits without applying at the DSS office.
    * Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) - ESAP is designed to simplify the SNAP benefit application process for elderly households.
    * Summer Food Service Program - The Summer Food Service Program was created to ensure that children in low-income areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast.
    * After School Snack Program - The After School Snack Program provides reimbursement to after school care organizations to ensure that each child participating in their program receives a healthy, nutritious snack.
    * Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) - The CSFP program works to improve the health of participants by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA commodity foods.
    * Emergency Shelters Food Program - The Emergency Shelter Program (ESP) provides reimbursement to emergency and homeless shelters to ensure that each child participating in their program receives healthy, nutritious meals.
    * The Emergency Food Assistance Program - TEFAP helps to supplement the diets of low-income Americans, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance at no cost.
    * Senior's Farmers Market Nutrition Program - The SFMNP provides fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from farmers’ markets, roadside stands and community supported agriculture programs to low-income seniors.
    * Child and Adult Care Food Program - The Child and Adult Care Food Program is a federally funded program that gives meal reimbursements to child care centers and adult day care centers for serving nutritious meals.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20250-0410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Pick up an application at your local County Department of Human or Social Services office, or download the application. You can also call your County office to have an application mailed or faxed to you.

Applications are in Adobe Reader's PDF format. You MUST Have Adobe Acrobat Reader to access these forms. To download the latest version http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Fill Out the Application

Please fill out as much of the application as you can. If you need help or don't understand a question, a staff member can help you complete your application.

To start the process, put your name, street address, and social security number on the application and sign it.

Return the application to the County Department of Human or Social Services Food Assistance Office

Bring, mail or fax your completed application to your local Food Assistance Office.

Make an Appointment for an Interview

Make an appointment for an interview at the Food Assistance Office when you return the application. In some counties, the Food Assistance worker will interview you the same day you return your application. If you return your application by mail, the food assistance office will contact you to schedule an appointment. Your appointment may be conducted in person or over the telephone.

To save time and to help the process go faster, please bring all the necessary paperwork with you.

Examples of verification that you might need to bring to your interview.

Birth Certificate
Drivers License
Child Support - court order or cancelled checks
Pay Stubs
Unemployment Compensation
Pensions
Letter from Social Security, Veteran's Assistance
Rental Agreement
Mortgage Statement
Utility Bills - telephone, electricity, gas, oil, water, sewerage, garbage
Child Care Expenses - cancelled checks
Medical Bills that you pay (if 60 years or older or disabled)
Bank Book or Bank Statements

The Interview

If you have an office interview, bring your verification with you to the interview. You keep the originals and the Food Assistance worker will make copies. If you have a telephone interview, your worker will explain how you can submit your documents. Your worker will also tell you if any additional information is need.

You will be assigned a Food Assistance worker. This is the person to call if you have questions about your case or you need to provide new documentation in the future.

After your interview, you will receive a notice in the mail regarding your eligibility.

If You are Eligible

You will get a notice that will explain how many months you can get food assistance benefits and the amount of food assistance you are eligible for.

Every month you are eligible, your food assistance benefits will be deposited into an account. You will be issued on an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card called a Colorado Quest card and will pick a personal identification number (PIN) to access this account. This card acts as a debit card and can be used in any grocery store or retail location anywhere in the United States that has been authorized by the USDA and displays the Quest logo.

Food assistance benefits can be used to buy most foods but may not be used to purchase food that can be eaten in the store or hot foods. Also you may not purchase any nonfood items, such as:

Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, tobacco

Pet foods

Soaps, paper products, household supplies

Vitamins, medicines

For information on nutrition, meal planning and smart shopping go to: http://www.nutrition.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=11&tax_level=1

If You are Not Eligible

If you are not eligible for food assistance benefits, you will receive a notice that explains why. If you think you are eligible, call or visit your Food Assistance office. If you feel you have been denied incorrectly, you may request a Fair Hearing. It does not cost any money to request a fair hearing.

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