Food and Nutrition Services

Guidelines

The Food and Nutrition Service program is set up to help families buy food that is needed for good health and nutrition. With food and nutrition services, a family will be able to purchase more food for their household. Guidelines include household size, earned and unearned income and resources. Emergency food stamps are processed within 7 days if a household meets emergency guidelines.

Eligibility

1. Income: You may be eligible for Food and Nutrition Services if your total income falls below the appropriate gross income limits for your household size. Eligibility workers determine which income limit applies to your household
2. Household Composition: Some individuals must participate in Food and Nutrition Services as one household even though they purchase and prepare their meals separately.

Individuals who must participate as one household include:

• Individuals living together who purchase/prepare their food together
• Spouses living together or individuals representing themselves as a married couple
• Individuals under 22 living with a parent
• Individuals under 18 under the parental control of an adult living in the home
• Two unmarried adults living in the same home who are parents of a mutual child

Citizenship/Immigration Status: All individuals receiving Food and Nutrition benefits must be US Citizens or immigrants admitted to the United States under a specific immigration status.

Resources: Some households may be subject to a resource test.

• Households may have $2,250 in countable resources
• Households may have $3,500 if at least one person is age 60 or older or disabled
• Certain resources are not counted, such as homes, buildings and land

For more information, view the NC Division of Social Services website or contact Social Services at 704-732-0738.

FNS Beneficiaries may be eligible for FNS Employment and Training Services.