SNAP Assistance

Beware of SNAP scam calls. Click the link to find out the details and how to avoid them.

Our Community Assistance Program provides SNAP assistance to help eligible individuals and families purchase food.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families, and provides economic benefits to communities.

Households who receive SNAP can use benefits to buy foods such as:

  • breads and cereals
  • fruits and vegetables
  • meats, fish and poultry
  • dairy products

The Houston Food Bank Community Assistance Program (CAP) provides assistance to people applying for SNAP

To learn more about SNAP, please visit USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service.

WHO CAN QUALIFY?

You may qualify for SNAP if…

✔ your income and other resources are under certain limits.
✔ you have a car, a house, and or some savings.

Only U.S. citizens and certain lawfully-present non-citizens may receive SNAP benefits. Non-citizens who are eligible based on their immigration status must also meet other SNAP eligibility requirements such as income and resource limits.

📌 If you are undocumented, and have children who are United States citizens, you can apply for SNAP on their behalf.

WHAT DO I NEED TO APPLY?

You’ll need when applying:

  • Identification (for everyone in the household)
  • Social security numbers (for everyone in the household)
  • Utility bills (gas, electric, oil, water, and telephone)
  • Rent receipt/agreement or mortgage statements and/or tax bill
  • Proof of income (for everyone in the household)
  • Medical expenses – ONLY if you are 60 and older and/or disabled
  • Child day care expenses

To learn more about SNAP qualifications, please visit Your Texas Benefits.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I APPLY?

When your application has been submitted, Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has 30 days to make a determination about your SNAP application. They will contact you to conduct an interview.

If you are denied, you are always welcome to re-apply.

Application and technical assistance is available at the Houston Food Bank (535 Portwall Street). Or, call  832-369-9390 to speak with a Community Assistance Program representative.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English.  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (833) 620-1071, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to:

  1. mail:
    Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
    1320 Braddock Place, Room 334
    Alexandria, VA 22314; or
  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email:
    FNSCIVILRIGHTSCOMPLAINTS@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

SNAP POLICY UPDATE

A laptop computer screen with a spreadsheet showing how easy it is to estimate your SNAP benefits by entering information about your household.

Eligibility for SNAP is primarily based on income and family size. Texas also uses a Vehicle Asset Test, which places a limit on the value of the vehicles that a household may own and still qualify for the program. The SNAP Vehicle Asset Test prevents many hungry families from accessing temporary food assistance. 

With inflation rising and the value of used cars increasing during the pandemic, there was an influx in the number of Texans being denied SNAP benefits due to the Vehicle Asset Test. This included many Texans who previously qualified for SNAP.

That’s why the Feeding Texas network and other anti-hunger champions worked to pass HB 1287 during the 88th Texas Legislature Session. The bill modernized the SNAP Vehicle Asset Test by applying a one-time inflationary adjustment to the current limits, increasing limits from $15,000 to $22,500 for the first car and from $4,650 to $8,700 for additional vehicles. 

The new policy is effective for all SNAP applications reviewed on or after January 1, 2024.

  • Learn more about how our Government Relations team advocates for policy change to better improve our neighbors and communities.

ESTIMATE YOUR SNAP BENEFITS*

A laptop computer screen with a spreadsheet showing how easy it is to estimate your SNAP benefits by entering information about your household.

Download our SNAP Benefits calculator tool to help estimate your benefit amount.

*This estimate is based solely on income and family size. Your actual benefits may be different. Only the Health and Human Services Commission can decide if you are eligible and the exact SNAP benefit amount.

Never give out personal information to an unexpected caller. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission will never contact you by phone, text or email to ask for your card number or PIN.

Spoofing is a caller masking their true phone number with another number to make it look like they are calling from a different source. In this case, a caller displays the Lone Star Card Help Desk number (800-777-7328). The caller proceeds to ask for your PIN, Social Security number and birth date to gain new or increased benefits. If you suspect spoofing, hang up the call and call the number on the back of your Lone Star Card.

Are you a victim of the Lone Star Card fraud? Report the incident to the Lone Star Card Help Desk at 800-777-7328. Also report the case to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 800-436-6184 as well as your local law enforcement agency. For more details on the scam, visit Texas Health and Human Services.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

For questions regarding SNAP application assistance, please call our helpline:

832-369-9390