• Foods for human consumption
• Seeds and plants that produce food for consumption by SNAP households.

Any non-food items such as;

• pet foods,
• soaps,
• paper products,
• household supplies,
• grooming items,
• cosmetics,
• alcoholic beverages
• tobacco,
• vitamins and minerals,
• any food that will be eaten in the store,
• hot foods that are ready to eat, or
• any food marketed to be heated in the store.

• All eligible individuals who live together and who purchase and prepare meals together more than 50% of the time must be included in the same SNAP benefits.
• Married couples living together,
• children under age 22 living with a parent, and
• two people (married or unmarried) living with a common child are all required to be included in the same SNAP benefits.

It can take up to thirty days for your application to be processed completely.

No. SNAP benefits are removed 274 days (9 months) after issuance.

The amount of your SNAP benefit is determined by your household’s gross income and the number of people living in your home. Deductions from your income are also taken into account.

The allowable deductions are:

• a standard deduction for utility costs if you pay for your primary heat source;
  shelter costs;
• a deduction for dependent care costs when necessary for work, training, or education;
• a deduction for legally owed child support payments; and
• a deduction for medical costs for elderly and disabled people.

All changes in income should be reported to the DoHS. If an increase in your household’s income puts you over the gross monthly income limit for SNAP, the change must be reported no later than the 10th day of the month following the change. You may also contact the Office of Constituent Services’s phone number to make changes on the SNAP case at 1-877-716-1212.

For SNAP purposes a college student is defined as an able-bodied person aged 18 to 49 who is enrolled at least half time (taking 6 or more credit hours in one semester).

A student enrolled at least half time who does not meet any of the exemption criteria is an ineligible student. Additionally, any student who lives in a dormitory operated by the school and receives the majority of his or her meals from the school is also an ineligible student for SNAP. Additionally any student who lives in a dormitory and receives 10.5 or more meals a week is also an ineligible student.

No. Only students enrolled more than half time are required to meet an exemption to receive SNAP.

A student who meets all of the other SNAP eligibility requirements will be able to receive SNAP if he or she meets any of the following:

• Work at least 20 hours a week (this must be paid employment);
• Get public assistance benefits under a Title IV-A program of the Social Security Act;
• Take part in a State or federally financed work study program;
• Are taking care of a dependent household member under the age of 6;
• Are taking care of a dependent household member over the age of 5 but under 12 and do not have adequate child care to enable them to attend school and work a minimum of 20 hours, or to take part in a State or federally financed work study program; or
• Are assigned to or placed in a college or certain other schools through:
  • A program under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998,
  • A program under Section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974,
  • SNAP Employment & Training program (SNAP E&T), or
  • An employment and training program operated by a State or local government.
  • Also, a single parent enrolled full time in college and taking care of a dependent household member under the age of 12 can get SNAP benefits if otherwise eligible.

No. Even if you are not taking summer classes, you are still considered a student if you will be enrolled at least half time in the upcoming semester.

A person is considered elderly by the DoHS if they are 60 years of age or older.

No. Anyone who is eligible to receive SNAP can get the benefit.

For elderly members and disabled members, allowable medical costs that are more than $35 a month may be deducted unless an insurance company or someone who is not a household member pays for them. Only the amount over $35 each month may be deducted.

Allowable costs include:

• most medical and dental expenses, such as
• doctor bills,
•  prescription drugs
• dentures,
• inpatient and outpatient hospital expenses,
• nursing care.
• they also include other medically related expenses, such as
• certain transportation costs,
• attendant care, and
• health insurance premiums.

Proof of medical expenses and insurance payments is required before a deduction for these expenses may be allowed.

No. The costs of special diets are not allowable medical costs.

Yes.

• The Special Reduced Residential Service Rate Program (20% Utility Discount Program). Eligible participants age 60 and older may receive a 20% discount from their electric and/or gas company. The electric and/or gas company will be responsible for determining your eligibility for the Special Reduced Residential Service Rate.
•  Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP assists eligible households with the cost of home heating through direct payments to utility companies on their behalf.
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This program provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five.
• Summer EBT for school-aged children to offset costs of feeding during summer months when students do not receive free or reduced priced meals.

Yes. Not receiving the minimum benefit amount is the same as throwing away a BIG coupon worth $23 per month. That is a yearly loss of $291.

Yes. You can appoint a person whom you trust to be an Authorized Representative for your case. This person will have access to your information and will be able to act on your behalf. Most DoHS offices require a signed statement from you in order to appoint an Authorized Representative.

In West Virginia, able-bodied SNAP recipients age 18 to 52, without children and who live in certain counties, will need to meet a 20 hour work requirement unless they meet one of the exemptions.

All 55 counties throughout the state are currently implementing the ABAWD requirements.

In order to receive SNAP, you will be required to consistently participate in a work or educational activity for a monthly average of 20 hours per week or meet one of the exemptions. One way to fulfill this work requirement is to participate in a SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) Program. You will only be able to receive SNAP for three months every three years if you do not meet the requirements or an exemption.
If you meet an exemption, and live in one of the 9 counties affected, please contact WV DoHS Client Services at 1-800-642-8589, or your DoHS case worker to report your exemption.

Some of the exemptions include:

• Experiencing homelessness.
• A veteran of any U.S. military branch, regardless of discharge status.
• An individual who aged out of Foster care at age 18 and is not yet 25 years old.
• Being under the age of 18 or over the age of 52.
• Being medically certified as unable to work.
• Receiving unemployment compensation.
• Receiving SSI.
• Working an average of 20 hours per week.
• Being a pregnant woman.
• Participating regularly in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program.
• Child under the age of 18 in the household.
• Caring for an incapacitated person.

Your local DoHS office will refer you to the Employment & Training Program (E&T Program) in your area. This program is designed to offer ABAWDs educational activities, prepare them for employment, and to help them get a job.

After three months, you will lose your SNAP benefits. You may be eligible to receive SNAP again if you meet the work requirements in the future.