Qualifying for Georgia Food Stamps

• The Georgia guidelines for qualifying for food stamps vary according to family size, income and assets. Your total household gross income cannot be more than 130 percent of the federal poverty level. You also cannot have more than $2,000 in assets; if the household includes an elderly or disabled family member, this amount increases to $3,000. If you have no children and are between the ages of 18 to 50, you can only receive food stamp benefits for three months out of the year. You can only continue to receive food stamps after the three month period if you find and participate in work activity or employment. An online screening tool can be used to see if you and/or your family qualify for Georgia SNAP benefits. Using the SNAP online pre-screening tool does not constitute applying for SNAP benefits.
  
  

Applying for a Georgia EBT Card

• Georgia residents can apply for food stamps via the paper application form 297 obtained from the Georgia Department of Human Resources or the Department of Children and Family Services. Applicants may also apply for food stamp benefits online by using the Georgia Compass website. Any Georgia resident may apply for food stamp benefits. Applications are processed within 30 days of application. Emergency applications can be processed in as little as seven days. Once you have applied, you will be required to attend an in-person interview. Bring your drivers license, Social Security card and copies of your pay check stubs and all monthly bills, including rent, to the interview.
  
  

Buying Food with Your Georgia EBT Card

• Georgia EBT cards can only be used to purchase edible food items or seeds to grow food. Alcohol, paper items, soap, tobacco, medicine, vitamins and pet food items are all prohibited. Elderly and disabled benefit holders may be able to purchase precooked food with a Georgia EBT card. Stores that participate in the Georgia SNAP program display a sign on the door indicating that they accept EBT cards.
  
  

Using the Georgia EBT Card

• Georgia EBT cards function much like a debit card. SNAP benefits are credited to Georgia EBT cards between the 5th through the 14th of every month. Any food stamp amounts not used in the current month will roll over to the next month. However, any food stamp amounts left over after 12 months will be deleted. To check your EBT card balance, you can sign up for an online EBT account at the JP Morgan Chase EBT website.