OVERVIEW:  

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest federal nutrition assistance program. SNAP provides benefits to eligible low-income individuals and families via an Electronic Benefits Transfer card. This card can be used like a debit card to purchase eligible food in authorized retail food stores. 

MATERIALS NEEDED 

1. Social Security Number

2. Employment Information: Pay stubs, bank statements, monthly income, and employer

3. Utility Bill information. 

APPLICATION

Steps to Completing Application

1. Either apply online at HHS Portal or email a scan of a paper application

2. Send identification and proof of income to HHS email imagingcenter4@dhs.state.is.us

3. A HHS caseworker will be assigned to the case. 

4. Sometimes they may be audited by the state by calling their employer directly for their pay stubs. If that happens, they may have an adjustment to their benefit amounts, and may end up needing to pay into the state to pay off the adjustment if the adjustment comes after their benefit disbursement. 

5. Upon Approval, every 6 months their income has to be verified by submitting pay stubs. 

6. Benefit amounts depend on the size of the household and the amount of income coming in. 

7. They should be able to update the household size for new babies and additional household members when the renewal forms come out every six months. 

8. P-EBT is a separate program that was done through the schools. They no longer have the extra P-EBT funds and the program is done. 

Online Application Form: https://dhsservices.iowa.gov/maint/?domain

Paper Application: https://hhs.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/470-0462.pdf?121920221715

NOTES

• If the client has had benefits in another state that is still active, then the other state benefits need to be canceled before applying for Iowa’s benefits.