Public Benefits are Key! Food Benefits – September 13th, 2023
Welcome to our FIRST-EVER Training on Food Benefits! You asked for it, and we heard you, providers! We had the pleasure of offering our very first Public Benefits are Key! Training on Food Benefits, led by the expert team from Solid Ground’s Benefits Legal Assistance Team: In this very special training, the Benefits Legal Assistance team covered: Do you have questions about your client or comrade’s public benefits? Reach out to Solid Ground’s Ask a Lawyer Program by emailing benefitslegalhelp[at]solid-ground[dot]org (include “ask a lawyer” in the subject line) or calling 206-694-6742. Announcement: EBT Holders can Have Stolen funds Replaced! In recent years, more attention has been brought to the nuisance of EBT card skimming, where a person will alter a store’s point-of-sale card swipers with the intent of copying someone’s EBT card information and draining a EBT card holder’s food benefits. Starting August 23rd, 2023, DSHS has instituted a process for replacing benefits stolen from card skimming! If an EBT cardholder has had funds stolen via card skimming… To report EBT Benefit theft to DSHS… *NOTE that Benefit Theft reimbursement does not apply to Cash benefits (TANF – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). What Types of Food Benefits are Available? For Whom? For many in Washington, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), also called Washington Basic Food or food stamps, is available for low-income households and those who fit citizenship requirements, such as: Washington also offers the FAP (State Food Assistance Program) for certain Washingtonians who are not citizens but meet income requirements for SNAP, such as DACA recipients and others classified as ‘legal immigrants’. *NOTE that those who are undocumented or visiting Washington on a VISA are not eligible for SNAP or FAP benefits. For a full breakdown of those eligible for SNAP or FAP, see the below decision tree. It is also important to note …