According to the Social Security Administration, anyone can apply for food stamps, but you must meet certain criteria to qualify for them. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or meet the criteria of a qualified alien. Emergency food stamps are given for one month, after which the applicant will need to fill out a regular application for food stamps. You can help a starving family by providing assistance with this process and directing the family to other resources for food.
Step 1
Pick up a food stamp application form, available at any local Social Security office. Filling out the form ahead of time can save you and the family you're helping time and effort. You can find the office closest to you on the Social Security Administration's website (see Resources). According to the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, you have a legal right to file the form on the same day.
Step 2
Help the family assemble the necessary information required by the Social Security Administration (see Resources) to apply for food stamps. For emergency food stamps only, the documentation includes identification and proof that the family has an income under a certain level, depending on the family size. The food stamps representative will be able to inform you what the maximum income level is. A food stamps representative is a case worker at your local Social Security office. You do not need to make an appointment to get help answering questions or to obtain assistance with submitting your form. You can also call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213.
Step 3
Use the federal government's online Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool (see Resources). This tool can help you and the family determine whether it is eligible for emergency nutrition assistance and how much it might be entitled to. It is helpful to have the required documents handy when filling out this information, as you will need to enter information such as income and rent payment.
Step 4
Take the family to the nearest Social Security office. Bring all of the required paperwork with you. The food stamps representative will help with filling out forms and answering any questions. You will have to go back again for an interview or complete an interview over the phone if you're unable to go in person after your paperwork is processed.
Step 5
Bring the family to a local food pantry or soup kitchen. This is another resource for obtaining nutritious food while the application is being processed. According to the Legal Aid Society, emergency benefits can take up to five days to process. Most religious organizations have a soup kitchen or food pantry, but they might have specific hours of operation, so call ahead. You also can find a nearby food pantry through Feeding America (see Resources).
Tips and Warnings
- If the family is unable to go in person to the Social Security office, such as because of disability or illness, you can act as its authorized representative. The family will need to write a letter stating that you are its representative and include a signature, date and case number if possible.
Things You'll Need
- Food stamps application
- Legal identification
- Proof of income
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