Food Stamps Guide
Food Stamps can be very beneficial to VISTA members. The process involved in being accepted to the food stamps program can be a very detailed one, but worth it! Please note: not everyone is going to have the same experience when applying for food stamps, individual cases will vary based on many factors. Follow instructions carefully!
Steps to apply for food stamps:
Steps to apply for food stamps:
1. The first thing you are going to want to do is gather the materials you will need when applying to the program. Here is a list of documents you will want to have when applying (individual requirements may vary):
- Driver’s License/State Issued ID: This does not have to be a Colorado ID, it can be
from any state.
- Birth Certificate: Some VISTA members have had to have the original copy and
some only a copy. Please contact your Health and Human Services office to find out
which you will need.
- Social Security Card: Some VISTA members have had to have the original copy
and some only a copy. Please contact your Health and Human Services office to
find out which you will need.
- Housing Agreement or Lease: Bring a copy that has the rent amount written out.
- AmeriCorps Health Insurance Card: You will receive your insurance card in the
mail within the first month of service. If you have not received your card please email
Seven Corners at [email protected].
- Earnings Statements: On your myAmeriCorps portal click on the "my living
allowance" section and print your TWO most recent earnings statments for
submission with your application.
- Monthly Utility Bills: Copies of any monthly utility bills that you pay including cell,
car insurance, electricity, water, gas, trash, etc.
- Current Bank Statement(s): Bring a copy for all accounts you have including
checking and savings.
- On your myAmeriCorps portal you will find a section called “my service letter,” click
on this link and print off the following forms:
- VISTA Currently Serving Certificate
- VISTA Social Security Income Disregard
- VISTA Public Benefits Disregard
- Letter From Host Program: This letter states that your income is not a wage, but a
stipend.
2. After you have gathered all of your materials you will need to download the food stamp application and fill it out. The application is 27 pages. Be sure to set aside some time so you do not have to be rushed through the application. You can find the application here:
http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/fap/HowDoIApplyForFoodAssistance.htm
3. Go to your local Health and Human Services office with your application and appropriate materials.This visit can take a very long time, so it is recommended that you arrive to the office 30 minutes before it opens. If you live in a smaller county where this might not be an issue, you can go in at your own discretion. If you live in Denver this is very important to save you hours of waiting:
DENVER ONLY: call 720-944-3666 to find out what food stamps office you should bring your application and materials to. What food stamps office you bring your information to depends on what neighborhood you live in.
County Health and Human Service office phone numbers:
- Routt County (Steamboat Spring, CO): 970-879-1540
- Chaffee County (Salida, CO): 719-539-6627
- Larimer County (Fort Collins, CO): 970-498-6300
- El Paso County (Colorado Springs, CO): 719-636-0000
- La Plata County (Durango, CO): 970-382-6150
- Mesa County (Grand Junction, CO): 970-241-8480
4. After you have submitted your application and appropriate materials you will schedule an interview with a caseworker. You could have the interview the same day you submit your application or at a later date. The purpose of this interview is to verify your information. You should receive a Quest Card at this interview. You will use your Quest Card to redeem your food stamps. NOTE: Just because you receive a Quest Card does not mean that you have been approved for food stamps. You will receive a letter in the mail informing you if you have been accepted, denied, or if there is a request for more information.
5. After you have been accepted to the food stamps program:
After you have been accepted to the food stamps program, your benefits will be deposited into your account at the beginning of each month. Specifically the day that corresponds with the last number of your social security number. For instance, if your social security number ends with a four, you will receive your benefits on the fourth day of the month.
After about six months you are going to have to be recertified for food stamps. This is similar to the application process in that you will need to supply all of the documentation that you did when applying, you will be mailed a document that you will need to fill out. You will need to drop off the materials and document to the human services office you must get a receipt for dropping these materials off. You must get recertified every six months.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: The most important thing to clarify with the food stamp office is Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Wages. For AmeriCorps members, if you were receiving food stamps before your service your stipend is EXEMPT. If you were not receiving food stamps before your service your stipend is NON-EXEMPT. If a mistake is made here you could end up owing money at the end of the year.
- Driver’s License/State Issued ID: This does not have to be a Colorado ID, it can be
from any state.
- Birth Certificate: Some VISTA members have had to have the original copy and
some only a copy. Please contact your Health and Human Services office to find out
which you will need.
- Social Security Card: Some VISTA members have had to have the original copy
and some only a copy. Please contact your Health and Human Services office to
find out which you will need.
- Housing Agreement or Lease: Bring a copy that has the rent amount written out.
- AmeriCorps Health Insurance Card: You will receive your insurance card in the
mail within the first month of service. If you have not received your card please email
Seven Corners at [email protected].
- Earnings Statements: On your myAmeriCorps portal click on the "my living
allowance" section and print your TWO most recent earnings statments for
submission with your application.
- Monthly Utility Bills: Copies of any monthly utility bills that you pay including cell,
car insurance, electricity, water, gas, trash, etc.
- Current Bank Statement(s): Bring a copy for all accounts you have including
checking and savings.
- On your myAmeriCorps portal you will find a section called “my service letter,” click
on this link and print off the following forms:
- VISTA Currently Serving Certificate
- VISTA Social Security Income Disregard
- VISTA Public Benefits Disregard
- Letter From Host Program: This letter states that your income is not a wage, but a
stipend.
2. After you have gathered all of your materials you will need to download the food stamp application and fill it out. The application is 27 pages. Be sure to set aside some time so you do not have to be rushed through the application. You can find the application here:
http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/fap/HowDoIApplyForFoodAssistance.htm
3. Go to your local Health and Human Services office with your application and appropriate materials.This visit can take a very long time, so it is recommended that you arrive to the office 30 minutes before it opens. If you live in a smaller county where this might not be an issue, you can go in at your own discretion. If you live in Denver this is very important to save you hours of waiting:
DENVER ONLY: call 720-944-3666 to find out what food stamps office you should bring your application and materials to. What food stamps office you bring your information to depends on what neighborhood you live in.
County Health and Human Service office phone numbers:
- Routt County (Steamboat Spring, CO): 970-879-1540
- Chaffee County (Salida, CO): 719-539-6627
- Larimer County (Fort Collins, CO): 970-498-6300
- El Paso County (Colorado Springs, CO): 719-636-0000
- La Plata County (Durango, CO): 970-382-6150
- Mesa County (Grand Junction, CO): 970-241-8480
4. After you have submitted your application and appropriate materials you will schedule an interview with a caseworker. You could have the interview the same day you submit your application or at a later date. The purpose of this interview is to verify your information. You should receive a Quest Card at this interview. You will use your Quest Card to redeem your food stamps. NOTE: Just because you receive a Quest Card does not mean that you have been approved for food stamps. You will receive a letter in the mail informing you if you have been accepted, denied, or if there is a request for more information.
5. After you have been accepted to the food stamps program:
After you have been accepted to the food stamps program, your benefits will be deposited into your account at the beginning of each month. Specifically the day that corresponds with the last number of your social security number. For instance, if your social security number ends with a four, you will receive your benefits on the fourth day of the month.
After about six months you are going to have to be recertified for food stamps. This is similar to the application process in that you will need to supply all of the documentation that you did when applying, you will be mailed a document that you will need to fill out. You will need to drop off the materials and document to the human services office you must get a receipt for dropping these materials off. You must get recertified every six months.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: The most important thing to clarify with the food stamp office is Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Wages. For AmeriCorps members, if you were receiving food stamps before your service your stipend is EXEMPT. If you were not receiving food stamps before your service your stipend is NON-EXEMPT. If a mistake is made here you could end up owing money at the end of the year.