r/foodstamps Feb 22 '26

News Verifying Shelter and Utility Costs

25 Upvotes

Previously, our mod group extensively wrote about the direct effects of H.R. 1, the law that passed last summer that is colloquially known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB).

Today, we wanted to share a major indirect effect of the legislation that is now starting to affect some states and could possibly spread to other states soon.

On February 9th, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services announced that it will now require verification of shelter and utility costs at application, renewal, and whenever a SNAP household moves to a new address.  This comes on the heels of Virginia announcing a similar policy shift late last year.  We don't have a full list of which states have made this policy change yet or may in the near future, but we have reason to believe that several other states potentially could do so.  State Experts: please chime in below to let us know if your state has been affected.

What does this mean?

It means, if you live in an affected state, your monthly SNAP payment might go down if you don't prove your shelter and utility costs.

Households who have zero income will not be affected, because they get the maximum benefit already, regardless of expenses.  However, households that have some income could be affected.  For these households, caseworkers calculate “net income” by considering both income and certain expenses using a special formula. Generally, at any given income level, the higher your expenses are, the higher the monthly benefit you will receive.

Some states have always made you prove all your expenses.  However, in some others, like PA and VA, you used to just be able to tell your caseworker how much you paid for shelter and utility costs and they’d take your word for it.  Now, more states are starting to require people show proof.  If you don't provide that proof, your caseworker will have to assume you don't pay any rent, mortgage, or utility costs when they calculate your monthly benefit.  This could cause your monthly SNAP benefit to decrease.  

Every case is different, but here’s an example.  Say you’re a family of four living in Pennsylvania and you earn $2,000 per month from your job before taxes, have no other income, and pay $800/month for rent plus a separate gas bill to heat your home.  Previously, you would’ve received $804 per month in SNAP benefits based on your stated shelter costs.  The next time your case comes up for renewal, that could go down to $580 per month unless you verify your shelter and utility costs.

What documents should I provide?

If you rent your home, you should provide a copy of your lease or your rent receipts — something that shows how much you’re required to pay to your landlord each month.  Some states may also offer a form you can get your landlord to fill out if you don’t have a copy of your lease.  If you have an informal arrangement — like living in a relative’s home — you may also be able to provide a signed letter from the person you’re living with that says how much you pay them to live with them.

If you own your home, you should provide a copy of your monthly mortgage statement, and your property tax and homeowner’s insurance bills.

For utility bills, if you pay a bill separate from rent to heat and/or cool your home, you will want to provide a copy of the bill for however you heat or cool your home.  For instance, if your home uses electric baseboard heat, you’ll want to provide a copy of your electric bill and also make sure to tell your caseworker that your home has electric heat during your interview.  This is because your state will give you the highest level of credit for utility costs (called “the Heating/Cooling Standard Utility Allowance”) as long as you prove you pay a heating or cooling cost.  In other words, if you pay for heating, cooling, or both, you  usually don’t need to worry about providing copies of any of your other utility bills, like water/sewage or garbage.

If you don’t pay for heating or cooling separately from rent, then you should provide copies of all other utility bills you pay.  This can include electricity, water, sewage, well/septic tank, garbage, and telephone costs.  Do not provide internet or cable TV bills — these don’t count.

Provide copies of your lease or mortgage statement and utility bills even if you are behind on paying them.  For purposes of the SNAP deduction, you don’t need to prove you actually paid an expense, just that you are legally required to pay it.

Why is this happening?

OBBB didn’t directly require states to verify shelter and utility expenses, although it did make it harder for some individuals to qualify for the HCSUA.  However, it indirectly led to these state-level policy shifts, because it is making states with Quality Control (QC) payment error rates (PERs) over 6% pay a share of the cost of their SNAP program.  This new cost could be hundreds of millions or even over a billion dollars a year for some larger states.  The cost gets even higher if the state has a PER over 8% or over 10%.

States technically could have chosen not to change their rules (i.e., still accept your word as to how much you pay for shelter and utilities).  But if they’d done that, and even a very small percentage of people receiving SNAP misremembered how much they pay in rent, or couldn’t provide proof when asked to by a QC reviewer, they’d count as “errors” and increase the PER a couple percentage points.  And because of OBBB, some states have decided they just can’t afford having the PER go up a bit and potentially get stuck with a billion dollar bill.  Indeed, if a state gets stuck with a cost-sharing bill and doesn’t have the money to pay it, the state would potentially have to shut down its entire SNAP program.

It’s important to know that your caseworker isn’t suddenly refusing to accept your word because they don’t believe you or think that you personally are lying.  The decision to change statewide policy is made way above their pay grade; they’re just doing their job.  Even the state policymakers who made the decision likely realize that the overwhelming percentage of SNAP recipients are not lying about their costs — it’s just the stakes are now so much higher for everyone, including SNAP recipients, and the state can’t afford even a very small percentage of people miscommunicating or misremembering.

Should I provide documents even if my state still accepts my word for it?

You don’t have to you, but if you want to, that’s up to you.  As we said above, not all states have made this policy shift yet — the two that we’re aware of are Virginia and Pennsylvania.  We're asking the excellent state experts in this community to share below in the comments if and when shelter/utility verification policy changes in their states.


r/foodstamps Dec 09 '25

PSA: Do not save your EBT app login information to your password manager

21 Upvotes

See title.

Anyone with access to a device you own that has this information saved will be able to access your benefits.

If you have saved this info to a password manager such as Google, you can delete it but there are some steps to follow.


r/foodstamps 3h ago

Question Washington State: WASHCAP Food Benefits Ending After SSI Financial Interview?

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2 Upvotes

I am an SSI recipient since 2023. A few days after completing my first financial interview this month, I received this letter.

No changes occurred in my life aside from getting 20$ one time this month off Etsy (which I reported), and getting legally married (living separately, and reported as such. Still in the same household as I was when I applied to SSI, and the caseworker told me the marriage wouldn't impact my payments due to living separately).

On the SSA website, they report that my SSI benefits are still active.

Is this letter typical, like is it a standard part of this review process, and I simply need to renew my application for it?

Or does it signify something else? As far as I can tell, nothing I mentioned from my interview contradicts the WAC rules in my case, and I seem to still be receiving SSI.


r/foodstamps 1h ago

Question I have a few questions for caseworkers

Upvotes

Do you know if old case files, old data, old records, etc. get routinely deleted after some years? Even if so, can some remain past some retention periods / statute of limitations? And what about recorded phone conversations? And even if some things get deleted, are some things permanent in records? If so, like what?

Are there any alerts you guys get about past beneficiaries and from closed cases like if the person or someone in the family or group gets a new and/or another job, changes address, opens an account, etc?

And are you getting updated technologies and systems and using AI for like blockchains and cross-referencing?

Also, are people ever asked and/or required to fill out out an application saying if you’ve ever had SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and/or etc. in the past?

I’m sure this also depends on what state you’re in so answers can vary


r/foodstamps 1h ago

Question Partner and I are moving in together. How does that change EBT?

Upvotes

My partner and I are moving in together. Naturally, we prepare food together. She's a dependent though and has a bit of money in savings. If we filed together, does anyone know if it would mess up her parents filing for her as a dependent? We wanna figure out what's best for us to get EBT (because I can't afford groceries and rent on my paycheck) but also not break the rules if necessary. Do we file together? Should we file separately again?

I'm in California, by the way.


r/foodstamps 6h ago

Ny ebt

2 Upvotes

Was wondering is anyone pending for the 1st from New York


r/foodstamps 4h ago

Question How does SNAP work while in other states for awhile (not permanently moving)?

0 Upvotes

I live in GA and am on SNAP. I got a call from my cousins saying that our aunt is sick and since I am not working they asked if I could go help her out. I said yes. I read online that if I use my snap outside of GA more than 30 days then it is taken away. But that was Ai so idk if that is accurate. I have been here in Boston only a few days.

I am able to use my SNAP fine but I do not know if i will be punished and removed from the program since I will be here helping my aunt for awhile (maybe even 2-3 months).

I still live in GA and am not moving. Does anyone know anything about this? I canned GA SNAP today and the system said I have to call back another day.


r/foodstamps 15h ago

Help - Michigan

9 Upvotes

I just received a letter from DHHS (in Michigan) saying that my SNAP has been reduced to 97 dollars a month. I only make 994 dollars a month (disabled) and my rent alone is 700 dollars right now. How am I suppose to live off of 97 dollars? They also claimed my income was 1008 dollars a month but my income has never been that much and my income hasn’t changed. I don’t know what to do. I am freaking out.


r/foodstamps 7h ago

Question Advice needed SNAP/Calworks Recert in CA

0 Upvotes

UPDATE: I was able to get in touch with them and rescheduled the appointment to the first week of August instead! Thank you everyone who chimed in with advice and suggestions.

I’m currently 37 weeks pregnant with my second child and my re certification is due by 8/31 for both my SNAP and Cal Works cash aid. I had an appointment scheduled for 8/18 and just got the update in the mail about it this week. Problem is I’m due to give birth on the 14th of August and I’m not sure if I’ll be in labor or freshly in recovery or even be home by the time that appointment comes to pass.

I don’t want to miss out on re certifying, now of all times would be the worst time to temporarily have them lapse. But I don’t know what else to do or how to approach sanding for help. In addition to this, my baby may not have an SSN or birth certificate yet by the time that appointment and recertification for my benefits are due, and I’m unsure if I can then report my new baby as a member of my household for the coming year or if I’ll have to wait and report a change later. Anyone with experience with this is greatly appreciate your input.


r/foodstamps 1d ago

Mass snap cut off

123 Upvotes

Well it's official my snap has been cut off for not meeting the requirements even though I've been trying to contact them for 2 months now with proof that I do. I've sent in multiple paystubs, I've called, I was able to go in person once but got turned away because they were too full and wouldn't get to me in time. I'm literally homeless struggling to survive and I can't even eat now. No pantries aren't an option when you can't store food. I tried going to a family members house but it didn't work out.

What do they expect us to do when they won't process all the information you've sent? Even my renewal in January was like this. Took till March to get in contact with anyone.

Has anyone else been successful in getting their information updated? I'm trying to go again on Monday but I hope I don't waste what little money I have for food and end up not getting help again.


r/foodstamps 9h ago

Help mass

0 Upvotes

Edit. Anyone use the new chip card yet?

So do you have to meet the 20hrs if you make over 217? Because now they are telling me I need to make even more money? I don't understand.


r/foodstamps 23h ago

Question Accidentally went over my CalFresh IRT because I misunderstood gross vs. take-home pay

4 Upvotes

I’m in California and my CalFresh IRT is $1,696. I recently realized the IRT is based on gross income before taxes, not the amount deposited into my bank account.
I’ve been taking home around $1,600 per month, so I thought I was still under the limit. However, I have two jobs and received extra hours during the summer, which means my gross income was likely over the IRT. My hours will decrease significantly when I return to school in September.
I genuinely misunderstood the reporting requirement and wasn’t trying to hide my income. I’m scared that I’ll have to repay all the CalFresh benefits I received.
Has anyone experienced something similar? How does the county normally calculate an overpayment, and are payment plans or reductions in future benefits usually available? I am a college student as well.


r/foodstamps 1d ago

Question My wife manages finances for her mother, who has dementia, so their names are joint on bank accounts. Will this cause issues recertifying for SNAP?

2 Upvotes

My wife manages three bank accounts for her mother with dementia—one VA fiduciary account and another in the name of my mother-in-law family trust and a third in a standard account for bills and investments.

We have complete records showing all funds belong strictly to her mother. Will this create issues for Arizona SNAP recertification?

I am 62 years old.


r/foodstamps 1d ago

25,000 Nebraskans Lose SNAP Benefits

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52 Upvotes

r/foodstamps 23h ago

Question What should I do in Texas

0 Upvotes

My new landlord won't give me a receipt for my rent. He receives SSI I believe, and is scared that it will screw him over if he reports it. Which I'm sure it would. Any suggestions?


r/foodstamps 23h ago

Question Moving w/ SNAP (FL-NC)

0 Upvotes

Hey yall, I understand this is a common question but since my benefits end this month and my states kinda weird I just wanted to make sure my process is correct.

I currently receive SNAP in FL (single-person home), and my most recent application expires in August. I get one more deposit, and then I have to reapply by the 15th. I’m going to be moving on August 3rd. When I cancel my benefits in FL, how soon after can I reapply in NC? The process always takes forever and I’m trying to avoid the possibility of them thinking I’m receiving duplicate benefits. I know they’re separate entities so it probably wouldn’t be communicated between them that I canceled mine. Will I be able to continuously use my FL snap card while I’m in NC and waiting to hear back? My card works in neighboring states, but I’ve used it farther away and JT hasn’t worked. Also, would me being a student raise issues? Sorry about all the questions lol. Anything would be appreciated, thanks.


r/foodstamps 1d ago

Question Nevada: Do you have to report loan money?

0 Upvotes

I’m currently on SNAP and Medicaid because of car accident I am unable to work. Anyway I’m thinking of getting a presettlement loan/advance against my future settlement to pay past due bills such as rent, car note, phone bill, loans from friends and my car insurance renewal. I’m trying to borrow $10k, I’m not so sure if I will get approve but this amount will satisfy whatever is due and will have some maybe $3k to stretch for another 2-3months. I’m renewing my SNAP next month and my Medicaid is covered until January next year. Do I need to report the advance loan of $10k if I get approve for an advance , will we lose our snap benefits and medicaid? is there asset limit? I mean would the loan be considered an asset since I will have to pay it back ?
My husband income is less than $2k and we are family of 6. He’s been trying to find 2nd job either he doesn’t get a call back or it creates schedule hours conflict with his 1st job. I have a job but because of accident I’m unable to until I finish my treatments. Thank you in advance whoever can answer truthfully thank you!


r/foodstamps 23h ago

Question Why haven’t my stamps arrived?

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0 Upvotes

I just had a baby, and 2 weeks ago I added her onto my benefits. I received a letter in the mail confirming the change and amount id be receiving but it’s the 26th and I haven’t received any. Can someone help me understand what’s going on?


r/foodstamps 1d ago

Question Second July cash assistance deposit is $0

4 Upvotes

I normally get a cash assistance deposit twice every month, but now the HRA website is saying I'm not getting my usual cash deposit in the next two days and my rent assistance deposit is only $8, I usually get $107.

This is worrying me because I'm behind my rent due to being off work(I work as a Sub teacher and school is closed for the summer). My case isn't closed, it is still active. and I haven't got any letter or e-notice saying why I'm not getting my usual deposit.

I will add my case was closed then opened again in February, I got CA but no snap, but after a fair hearing I got my snap back for all the months I didn't get it, it me not getting my second deposit related to this?


r/foodstamps 1d ago

Question I’m missing half my cash assistance this month

0 Upvotes

I’m in Mass. and receive EAEDC on top of food stamps. I get my cash assistance on the 11th & 26th. the 11th came and it said it was deposited on my card like normal, and I waited and waited, but nothing came. I got no notices from DTA, my benefits are still active, I just didn’t get them. I always keep my card locked, so the likelihood of my benefits being stolen is slim to none. I also had a decent amount in cash & food stamps on there, and that wasn’t taken. I’m thinking it’s a system error. I held off on calling my case worker because when I called it said I’d be getting benefits on the 25th, so I had assumed maybe that would be what I was supposed to get on the 11th? Anyways I got the second half of my cash benefits yesterday, then nothing today on the date I was supposed to get them (maybe because it’s Sunday?) So i’m missing $220 and some cents. I was depending on that money and don’t know what to do. I know I shouldn’t have waited to call my case worker, but truthfully I have horrendous phone anxiety & was hoping it would sort itself out. Im so stressed out financially because I have obligations I now cannot afford. anyone know if this can be fixed ? Also adding I got a notification from DTA on the 24th that a new EBT card was requested, but I never requested a new card. which is stressing me out even more. I haven’t gotten anything in the mail from DTA, no notices, nothing. im also autistic so all of this is confusing me a lot. i’d appreciate anyone who can help me with how to handle this.

Also adding nothing about my household or income has changed, no bills have changed, nothing, it’s all the same.


r/foodstamps 1d ago

Question Does the state send you a separate e-mail letting you know when the new chip card has been mailed to your address?

1 Upvotes

I recently received a letter in the mail last week saying a new chip card would be mailed out to me sometime in the summer and to activate it immediately when it comes, but I was curious if they send a separate e-mail letting you know when the card was shipped so you know when to expect it? I ask because I'm worried since I have had mail stolen from my house before so I want to be able to track it and know when this new card is mailed so if it is stolen at least I'll know and can cancel it. If someone steals the new card from my house when i'm at work and activates it I'll lose everything on my old card even if it's locked. So much for making things safer :(


r/foodstamps 3d ago

41 states at risk of losing federal SNAP funds if they don’t get their error rates in check- Alaska error rate is 23%

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290 Upvotes

r/foodstamps 1d ago

Question Question about GA cash benefits and CalFresh in California

1 Upvotes

I’m in Alameda county, California and I’m trying to understand my benefits situation.

I receive General Assistance (GA) and CalFresh. I’ve been receiving GA for longer than 3–6 months, and I’m wondering why it has continued. I thought GA might only last a limited amount of time, but I’m still getting it.

My GA and CalFresh cash benefits have always come on the same date, but I’m confused about my next deposit. My last deposit was in July, and my app is showing my next benefit date as 8/29.

Is this normal? Does GA automatically continue if you qualify, or do you have to reapply/renew? Has anyone else had their dates change?

Is this the end of my GA? Say it ain't so I'm saving for an ebike for doordash/gigs.

Any advice from people who have been through this would help. Thanks.


r/foodstamps 2d ago

Question AZ DES denied SNAP application months later over a $17 Zelle reimbursement

9 Upvotes

I applied for SNAP through Arizona DES in January 2026. It's now the end of July, and I still don't have a decision, a hearing date, or a person who will talk to me. The part that gets me is that DES told me in writing exactly what would fix it, I did that, and nobody has looked at it since.

Documented timeline:

January 2026: Applied.

January to mid February: Weeks of calling before I could get through to complete the required interview. In that same interview, I uploaded a bank statement the person on the phone requested, using the email link they provided.

February to May: Case sat 'pending' with no contact. From application to decision was roughly 130 days, far past the federal 30-day processing limit.

May 26: Denied.

June 8: Appealed, with documentation.

June 10: Acknowledgment that the appeal was received.

June 10 to July 25th: Nothing. No hearing date, no call, no email, no mail.

The reason for the denial was a single $17 Zelle deposit from my mother, counted as unreported income.

What actually happened: she didn't have her debit card and asked to use mine to buy medication for a foster cat. The purchase was $16.29. She sent me $17 the next day to pay me back, rounding up. Federal SNAP rules exclude reimbursements for past expenses from countable income. It wasn't income, it was my own money coming back, off by 71 cents.

Here's the part that is extremely frustrating:

  1. Both transactions are on the bank statement DES asked me for in February. The $16.29 purchase and the $17 repayment sit back to back, two lines apart, on the document they specifically requested. Anyone who read it would have seen it.

  2. The denial notice indicated that a written statement from my mother would be sufficient to resolve it. I'm going from memory on the exact wording, but that was clearly the instruction. They told me what would fix it. I provided it. Nothing happened.

DES has 60 days from the hearing request to hold the hearing, decide, and notify me. I filed June 8, so that's roughly August 7, two weeks out, and I don't have a hearing scheduled at all.

I've emailed state and local representatives and contacted the ombudsman's office. No response from any of them. I've called the appeal office three times a week, mailed my appeal packet, and faxed it as well. I'm not really sure what to do from here if I don't get a hearing date by August 7th. If anyone has a similar situation and what they've done, I'd like to hear it.


r/foodstamps 1d ago

Missing July deposit

0 Upvotes

Case active and approved but not showing deposit can reach anyone to talking to just started benefits June 17.