Food Stamp Eligibility Tool Tutorial

Introduction:

Welcome

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food &
Nutrition Service (FNS) is providing this pre-screening tool to help you
find out if you or others might be eligible to receive food stamps. This
tool is not an application for food stamps. But the tool can help you make
an informed decision as to whether you or others should apply at your
local food stamp office. It can also guess how much you will get. But only
your local food stamp office can tell you for sure.

If you have questions about how to use this tool, you
can continue with this menu by clicking on “Next.” If you don’t understand
a question in the tool, you can click on the question mark next to it for
help.

Introduction:

Navigation

The pages in the pre-screening tool are organized so you
can get help for any question at any time. This format should allow you to
use the tool quickly and easily. After you click on the “Start Tool”
button, you can begin answering the questions. The setup has a navigation
bar at the top right, and a main content area in the middle. The
navigation bar provides three help options: Tutorials, Help Systems, and
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). If you click on one of the options, you
can learn more about different parts of the site.

Introduction:

Tutorials

If you click on “Tutorials,” you will find the options
“Internet Basics Tutorial,” “Pre-Screening Tutorial” and “Entering
Information Tutorial.”

If you click on “Internet Basics Tutorial,” you will
find an explanation of how to use a computer to search the Internet. It
explains how to use a mouse and a keyboard. It also shows which buttons to
click on to explore web pages.

If you click on “Pre-Screening Tutorial,” you will find
the pages you are looking at. These pages explain how to use the food
stamp pre-screening tool.

If you click on “Entering Information Tutorial,” you
will learn how to put your answer into each question in the
tool.

You may want to look at each of the tutorials before
using this pre-screening tool.

Introduction:

External Sources - Links

The first page of the tool allows you to click on “USDA,
Food and Nutrition Service.” Here you can learn more about the government
organization that offers food stamps.

You can also learn more about state food stamp programs.
At the top of the page, you will find the sentence “Click here to find the
office that serves your area.” If you click on the word “here,” you will
find a phone number for food stamp help for each state. Most of these
numbers are free of charge.

Screening Tool Setup:

Questions

When you begin using the tool, you will answer questions
by typing in the box next to each question. The tool uses your answers to
see if you might be eligible for food stamps. The tool will also estimate
the amount of benefits you might get. But only your local office can tell
you for sure.

You can get more help with this process using the
“Internet Basics” tutorial. If you do not understand a question, you can
click on the question mark next to the question. You will then see an
explanation of what the question is asking you.

Screening Tool Setup

Help - Icons

You will find a small blue arrow next to many of the
spots where you must answer a question. If you click on this arrow, you
will see an explanation of how to fill in your answer.

Some of the questions are optional, and some are
required. If a question is required, you will see a small red asterisk (*)
next to it. You must answer that question before going to the next
question. If you do not answer it and try to go on, the tool will remind
you to finish the question. If you click on the asterisk, you will find an
explanation for each of these questions.

Help - Screens

Tutorials

Each tutorial is set up like a book. You can read each
page and then flip to another one using the “Next” and “Back” buttons at
the bottom.

Definitions

At the bottom of some pages of the pre-screening tool,
you can click on certain words printed in blue. You will then see a
definition of that word. This may help you answer a question you did not
understand.

Help - In-depth

You can also use the question mark button for help with
each question, and the arrow button for help with your answer.

Answering Questions - Entering
Data

When you are finished answering all of the questions on
one page of the pre-screening tool, you can move to the next page by
clicking on “Continue” at the bottom right corner of the page. After that,
you can go back by clicking the “Go Back” button next to the “Continue”
button.

Buttons and Page Navigation

You can exit the pre-screening tool at any time by
clicking on the “Exit” button at the bottom left corner of the page.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Household Routing

The first page of the tool asks questions that will help
the system find the best help for you.

The State / Territory
Question

The first question asks for a state or territory. Enter
the state or territory of the person who is interested in food stamp
information. Some states have their own pre-screening tools for food stamp
eligibility. If you say you live in one of those states, the system will
automatically direct you to the state's pre-screening tool. Some states
have made small changes to their food stamp eligibility rules. So your
state tool is more accurate.

Some states have special rules. If this pre-screening
tool tells you you're not eligible, you might still be eligible in your
state. Maybe your state has special rules that make you eligible. You
should always check with your local food stamp office to know for
sure.

Example of Definition Window -
Help

If you need help with the state or territory question,
click on the question mark next to the state question. A list of every
state is available.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

State Tools

If the state you chose has a pre-screening tool, this
next page will show it to you. If not, you will go on to the next regular
screen of this pre-screening tool.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Household - Numbers

On this page you say how many people are in the
household. Usually, this is the number of people who live in the home. If
some people in the home buy and eat food separately, they don’t count as
members of the food stamp household unless they are the spouse or a child
under age 22.

If a person is renting a room and lives with you, the
person is probably not a member of your household. The person is in your
household only if he or she eats the same food you do. If you have any
questions about who lives in the household, click on the help button next
to this question. You can also call the state hotline number.

Similarities to Routing
Page

You can answer the questions on this page just like on
the last one. Click on the blank to the right of the question, and type in
the answer. For the second and third questions, you can say “yes” or “no”
by clicking on the white circles next to those words.

If you have any questions about how to give an answer to
a question, click on the little blue arrow next to that
question.

Complete / Continue

When you are done answering the questions, click on the
box that says “continue,” and you will go on to the next
page.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Household - Members

On this page you give the name and the age of every
person in the household. To do this, just click on the white box next to
each question and type your answer. Then, for each person, you say whether
that person is a U.S. citizen, and also whether that person is
disabled.

Household Members Name

The pre-screening tool asks only for the first name of
each person. You don’t have to use the person’s real name. The information
you give to the tool is not saved. There is a survey at the end that is
saved but it is optional.

Adding / Deleting Rows

The number of rows on the page is the number of people
you said were in the household. If you need more rows, click on the little
green plus sign at the bottom of the page, next to “Add More Rows.” You
will then get three more rows.

You must answer every question on the page before you
can go to the next page. If a person is not disabled, you do not need to
click on the “Yes” box below the “Disabled?” question.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Assets

On this page you say the assets of each person in the
household. Some assets are cash or money in a bank. Some might be physical
things a household member owns such as rental property. This page works
just like the income page. For each person in the household, you say the
kind of asset the person has in the column called “Type of Asset.” You put
the answer in the box to the right of that person’s name. Then you say how
much money the asset is worth in the “Worth” column.

If you have a lot of assets, this may disqualify you
from getting food stamps. But some assets don’t count. If your assets do
not count, you will still be eligible. So if you have many assets, your
results might not be right. If the pre-screening tool says you are not
eligible, you should check your local food stamp office to make sure. You
might still be eligible.

Some people in the house probably have more than one
kind of assets. To put down each kind of asset each person has, click on
the green “plus” button next to “Add More Rows,” just like before. Then
you can put each asset for each person on a separate row, just like in the
“income” section.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Assets - Vehicles

On the page called Assets, you say all of the kinds of
property each person in the household has. If a person owns a car or
truck, it might be a big asset, if it’s worth a lot of money.

If no one in the household has a car or truck, you can
skip this section.

The amount of assets a household has can determine if
the household can receive food stamps. Each state has its own rules on
counting the value of cars or trucks. If you use a car or truck while you
do your job, it might not count as an asset. But, cars or trucks used to
go to and from work are still counted as an asset. A household who thinks
it might not be eligible because of the car or truck it owns should
consult with the local food stamp office.

On this page you can find out what the state’s rules are
for cars and trucks. You can also learn how to guess how much the car or
truck is worth. That way you can check to see if that car or truck might
be worth too much. If it is worth a lot of money, the household might not
be eligible for food stamps. However, it is best to ask a local food stamp
office worker to help determine the value of the car or
truck.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Income - Earned

On this page you give the earned income of each member
of the household. Each person has a name, because you entered the name in
the last section. If no one in your household has earned income, you may
go to the next section. To find out what counts as earned income, click
HERE.

Income

For each person’s earned income, choose where the earned
income comes from in the row called “Type of Earned Income.” To do this,
click on the box to the right of that person’s name in that column. Then
say how much income that person gets by clicking and typing in the next
column, called “Gross Amount Received.” Explain how often the person gets
that income in the next column. These answer boxes work just like in the
pages before.

More than one income type

Some people in the household might have more than one
kind of earned income. For people with more than one job, you need a row
for each kind of earned income. To get more rows, click on the small green
“plus” button next to “Add More Rows” at the bottom of the page. After
that, you can choose which person goes with which row. If a person has
more than one kind of income, that person can take up several
rows.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Income - Unearned

Similar to Earned Income

This next page is also for income. But this is only
income that is unearned, or income that doesn’t come from working. This
might be money from a government program like Social Security,
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF). It could also be money from nongovernmental sources like
alimony, or child support. If no one in your household has unearned
income, you may go to the next sections. To find out what is unearned
income click HERE.

This page works just like the one before it. For each
person in the household, if that person has unearned income, say where it
comes from in the “Type of Unearned Income” box. Then say how much that
person gets, and how often

If a person doesn’t have any unearned income, you don’t
have to fill in the row for that person. You can leave it
blank.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Expenses - Housing

Most states also have a "standard utility allowance"
(SUA) you can deduct instead of your utility cost. The SUA is an estimate
of how much a person might pay for utilities each month. In each state it
is the same number for every household. But it can change from state to
state. Your SUA in your state may be more than what you pay for utilities.
If so you can deduct it instead of deducting what you actually pay. This
can help you because you can get a bigger deduction this way. This
pre-screening tool will check to see whether your state SUA or your actual
utilities cost more. Then it will automatically pick the larger one for
you so you get a bigger deduction. But when you apply you will need to
figure this out yourself. So you need to check with your local office for
more information on this option. For a list of state SUA numbers, click HERE.

If you are homeless, you probably don't have any of
these costs. But you can still get a "deduction" for shelter. A deduction
is an amount of your income that doesn't count because you have to spend
it on something other than food. If you are homeless, you can get a
deduction for shelter of $143 per month in many states. This tool will
give you that deduction automatically if you say you are homeless.

Once this section is completed, click on “Continue.” If
you do not understand a question, click on the blue question mark next to
it.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Expenses - Dependent Care

Here you say if anyone in the household needs dependent
care. Dependent care is money you must spend on a household member so that
the person can work or go to school. It might include childcare. It also
might pay for the care of a disabled or elderly person.

For each person, say how much money is spent on
dependent care in the middle column. Then put how often that money is paid
in the right column.

If more rows are needed, add them by clicking on the
“plus” button next to “add more rows."

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Expenses - Child Support

Just like for Dependent Care, you say how much money
each person spends on child support and how often it is paid. You can add
more rows with the “plus” button.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Expenses - Medical

Here you say what medical expenses each person has.
Medical expenses often come from many different places such as several
different doctors or drug stores. So on this page, say exactly where each
cost comes from for each person. You can’t just pick from a list. You also
say how often each expense is billed for each person. To add more rows,
click on the “plus” button.

You might not get this page after the Dependent Care
page. If no one in your house is disabled or over 60 years old you will
not get the page. You will get the next page instead, the Results page.
This is because you can only deduct medical costs for two kinds of people.
These are people who are disabled according to food stamp rules, and
people who are age 60 or older.

Medical expenses can be a “deduction” for the food stamp
program. That means that money you pay for these expenses doesn’t count as
income or assets. If you pay medical expenses for someone who is older
than 60, or gets disability payments, your medical expenses might be a
deduction. But only if you get medical bills for more than $35 per month,
for the people in your household who are disabled or over 60. If you pay
more than $35 per month on medical expenses for other household members,
that money is not a deduction.

If you have medical insurance, the “premium” you pay to
get the insurance is a deduction. But if the insurance covers bills for
you, those bills are not a deduction. Only the health insurance premium
cost, the amount you pay for the insurance, is the
deduction.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Results

On this page you get your results. You find out whether
the household might be eligible for food stamps, and also get an estimate
of how much the household might get if the person applies and is certified
by the local food stamp office worker. The estimate is based on the
information you provided.

If you or someone you know decides to apply for food
stamps, the local food stamp office must check your information. It will
make a decision using state rules.

Please remember that the results you received today are
only an ESTIMATE. The results might not be right. You might get more or
less food stamps than the estimate shows. If the results say you are NOT
eligible for food stamps, you COULD still get them. Every state’s rules
for food stamps are a little different. Food stamp workers are the only
people that can officially determine whether or not a person is eligible
for food stamp benefits. To find out if you or others are eligible,
complete a food stamp application form and apply at a local food stamp
office.

You can also call your local food stamp office, or click
HERE for a list of food stamp phone hotlines. If you click on “click
here,” on the results page, you will also go to the list of food stamp
phone hotlines. Each state has its own hotline. If you call the hotline
for your state, you can obtain information on how to get an application
form and where to apply. You can also learn more about the application
process.

If you click on “click for details,” you will see some
of the answers you put down.

At the bottom of the screen, you will see other programs
you might be eligible for. If you click on the name of one of them, you
will go to another page where you can learn more about the program.

You can also print out this page so you can remember
what it said. Click on “print this page” and the page will print, if your
computer is connected to a printer.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Printable Results

Summary

After the results page, if you click on “continue,” you
come to a survey. This survey is optional. It is just used to let the FNS
learn more about who uses the pre-screening tool. The system does not keep
any information and your answers are confidential.

The questions on the survey can be answered one-by-one
just like all the questions in the tool itself. When you are done
answering them, just click on “Finish.”

That’s all there is to the pre-screening tool! If there
is any other thing you don’t understand, you can call the food stamp
hotline for your state.

Thank you for using the tool.

Step-By-Step Walk-Thru:

Survey

Disclaimers

The survey (optional) is used to create demographic and
research statistics for the USDA FNS. This will help them better the
system, and the Food Stamps Programs as a whole. It will allow them to see
which areas have most interest in Food Stamps as well as the areas that do
not and those that need higher attention and funding.

Finishing Screening, Logging
Out

By clicking exit at the end of the survey the user will
also be signing out of the system, the screening tool, and will be brought
back to the Welcome page.