Food

Each year, the Seattle Human Services Department invests in meal and food bank programs to help people who are homeless, homebound or have low incomes meet their basic nutritional needs. Visit the department’s Emergency Services and Ending Homelessness web page for more information.

In addition to these programs, the Washington State Basic Food Program, formerly called the Food Stamps Program, helps low-income people buy food. It is funded by federal dollars and administered by the state.

Qualified applicants receive a debit card that is used to purchase food items at participating stores. Money is automatically added to the card every month. The amount varies based on household size and income and can be between $10 and $800 per month.

Individuals do not need to be receiving cash through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to qualify for this program. Recipients of this service automatically qualify for the Washington Telephone Assistance Program, which reduces the cost of local phone service and connection fees for landline phones.

To be eligible, individuals must:

• Have a household income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level



• Be U.S. citizens or have been in the U.S. legally for the past five years

If some household members are U.S. citizens or have been in the U.S. legally for the past five years they may be able to receive food benefits even if other household members are not eligible. Adult students must work at least 20 hours per week or participate in work study in order to be eligible.

Household size is determined by the number of people in your home whom you buy and prepare food for or with. Household members do not need to be family members.

Information

For more information, visit the Washington State Basic Food Program web site.