Food Resources

What is it? Food Stamps are a supplemental nutritional assistance program for low-income families. This resource should be used for someone who has long-term food needs and wants to enroll and receive food benefits. This resource can only be resolved by utilizing SNAP. It is a good idea to assess if your client has immediate food needs. When necessary, this resource is opened at the same time as Food Pantry & Soup Kitchen to help your clients get food while they wait to complete the application process.

1. Is this the first time that your client is applying to SNAP?  

   • If not, have them recertify 

2. Does your client also want to apply for Medical Assistance or MCHP?

   • If so, you should apply using the same application at the same time you apply for SNAP

Eligibility Criteria

1. Age: applicants must be 22 years or older to apply for SNAP, HOWEVER, there are some exceptions:

   • If your client is between the ages of 18-22, they may apply if they are the head of the household/paying their own bills. They are still encouraged to visit their local DSS office, or at least apply, if they are between the ages of 18-22 and living on their own but bills are not in their name.

2. Click here for other eligibility requirements for SNAP. (**To access the hyperlinks, you will have to click on the link that you receive on the redirect notice page**)

How to Apply

1. Client can apply online at myDHR or myMDTHINK. (**To access the hyperlinks, you will have to click on the link that you receive on the redirect notice page**)

2. Client can go to a DSS office and fill out an application there with a case worker.

3. Email application PDF to be printed or mail client a hard copy that they can then fill out on their own and submit at their local DSS office.

What to Expect After the Application?

• Ensure that your client receives a phone interview within 10 days of the application. 

• If your client does not speak English, schedule the interview so that you can conduct the interview as a three-way phone call with DSS and the client.  

• Follow up with the client to ensure that they receive a letter of approval or denial in upcoming weeks.  

In the case of approval, check with the client to make sure they receive an EBT card with money on it.  

• Let the client know that they will have to go through a redetermination process every 6 months and alert them to the fact that this requires filling out paperwork each time the Department of Social Services sends it to them

SNAP Outreach 

The SNAP Outreach program sends Maryland Food Bank outreach workers to strategic community centers, faith-based organizations, and residential housing facilities to help eligible Marylanders sign up for and recertify their SNAP benefits.

How Does It Work? 

The Maryland Food Bank team holds SNAP outreach events in food-insecure communities nearly every weekday. Information about their network partners is available at each event, helping to provide immediate hunger relief to individuals while also ensuring they receive the long-term food benefits they need. Through MFB's partnership with DHS, their outreach workers are authorized to assist with and submit clients’ SNAP applications. Outreach workers arrive at each location with the technology needed to set up a mobile office space, and, with the needed documentation, they can complete applications on-site or over the phone.

Contact: snapteam@mdfoodbank.org or call 1-888-808-7327. 

For more information, click here or reference the express sheets below. (**To access the hyperlinks, you will have to click on the link that you receive on the redirect notice page**)

Maryland Restaurants Meals Program

What is it? The Maryland Restaurant Meals Program (MD RMP) allows individuals who are homeless, elderly (age 60 or over), or disabled, and their spouse, to use their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase prepared meals at authorized restaurants.

Eligibility:

• Disabled – SNAP participant’s household must have only members who are designated as disabled by a government entity, or a disabled individual and his or her spouse.

• Elderly – 60 years of age or older, and his or her spouse.

• Homeless – The household must lack a fixed and regular nighttime residence or be living in a shelter, halfway house, or a place not designed for sleeping. This includes those who are temporarily staying in the home of another person for 90 days or less.

Visit the webpage here for more information. (**To access the hyperlinks, you will have to click on the link that you receive on the redirect notice page**)

SNAP Recertification, SNAP Emergency, SNAP Retroactive

SNAP Recertification

• Every six months any recipient of SNAP will be asked to verify their continued eligibility for food stamps benefits

• Fill out any changes in the indicated areas of the application

• Send in the forms along with any requested documents to your client's local DSS office.

• Follow up with client to ensure that they continue to receive the correct food stamps amount.

SNAP Retroactive

• What is it? Retroactive food stamps are given when an application for food stamps is delayed and, upon approval, a caseworker finds that the household has been eligible for benefits throughout the application process. The accumulated value is simply added to the household's balance on their benefits card.

• Who is eligible? Households determined eligible must be provided SNAP benefits retroactive to the day of application. This is one of the reasons it is important to encourage households to file an application the same day they contact the FSP office.

• How to apply? An application must be filed in order to establish and protect the right to retroactive SNAP benefits.

• Example: if a family of three applied in June and the application was approved in August for $250 in SNAP benefits per month, the caseworker responsible would most likely give the family a starting balance of $500 for the two months during which the family would have received food assistance if the application had not been delayed.

SNAP Emergency

• What is it? The Maryland Food Bank and the Baltimore City Department of Social Services partner to provide emergency food distribution services for city residents.

• Who is eligible? Any resident of Baltimore City may request a three-day emergency food voucher to be redeemed by designated food providers. This includes clients with no I.D. The only requirement is to have an address in the appropriate family investment center. If infants are a part of the family, diapers and baby formula along with the food is also provided. Clients are eligible for any emergency food voucher twice every 30 calendar days.

• How to apply? Applicants must file an application and be interviewed. People who have little or no money qualify for benefits food right away. They must only have an interview and verify identity. If a client does not have transportation to and from a provider, transit tokens are authorized by the BCDSS department.

SNAP Report a Change

• What is it? If a client needs to make add or remove a child to existing SNAP benefits.

• How? Client must fill out a Report a Change Form.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutritional education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding or non-breastfeeding postpartum women and to infants and children up to 5 years old who are found to be at nutritional risk.

Guide for Advocates

1. Ask your client if they prefer to have quick and easy information on how to sign up for WIC or if they prefer to know about all of the benefits, application process, and usage of WIC. If they prefer the first option, print out the WIC flyer QR code and the income guidelines. If your client prefers the second option, provide them with the WIC authorized food list, the WIC Benefits Guide, the WIC Express Sheet, and the WIC income guidelines. 

2. Ensure that your client is aware they must schedule an appointment at the Central WIC MD office and that they are able to bring with them the required documents (proof of income, address and pregnancy, if pregnant).  There may be other required documentation depending on which office you make the appointment, so you should ask on the phone for a list of required paperwork.  

a. What to do if your client cannot provide all of the supplemental material (proof of address, etc.):

1. Proof of Address:  If your client does not have a permanent residence or they do not have their name on the bills to prove it, the person they are staying with can write on a piece of paper that they are living with them. The paper must be dated and signed by whoever they are living with.

WIC Program Referal Form (clients or advocated may complete this): https://redcap.baltimorehealth.info/surveys/?s=9R9CKHD3YT