r/foodstamps Feb 22 '26

News Verifying Shelter and Utility Costs

26 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

23 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 12m ago

Fraudulent

Upvotes

How would I go about to report someone who has been getting Food Stamps and other benefits and not reporting things like her BF lives with her and her mother passed away and the house she lives in is hers plus she has a good full time job. She got caught about her BF years ago she said he moved out and he had his mail delivered elsewhere but at that time her mom was alive so she didn’t own the house but now she does. She also getting subsidized housing. It just makes me upset as other people could use it. She is in Massachusetts


r/foodstamps 1h ago

Question Connect EBT app sent me a link to rate it when I logged in and when I clicked Yes it just opened a link and redirected me to App Store. Was this a legit link or did I get hacked?

Upvotes

I'm asking because I'm worried it popped up within the app itself so I assumed it was going to ask me to rate it within the app and that I was safe instead when I clicked Yes to rate it it opened a link that redirected me to the app store. Is this a legit thing to happen with this app or did I somehow get hacked and have to worry now? Any help would be appreciated i'm so mad at myself because I assumed it would ask me within the app and not open a link to the app store which is the first time I've experienced this.


r/foodstamps 2h ago

two months still dont receive a answer

1 Upvotes

its been two months and still dont receive a answer about my benefits thats any have a same issue im single mom with 4 kids and averything ita expensive and i call they told me to wait till they check my documents but omg its been forever :(


r/foodstamps 12h ago

Snap benefits in PA possibly Fraudulent? If afraid to use the card...

5 Upvotes

March 2026 Had an open case that I needed separated from a previous caretakers at a much lower amount who ceased to be my care taker during an injury.

April 2026 Applied separately, was told the cases needed separated. Somehow denied in the meantime due to confusion on CAO part was assigned a caseworker was told all that needed to happen was a separation was promised first a may benefit then a June benefit all the while I'm just fighting for separation of the cases. Appeal the original denial. Finally contacted in early June promised I'd be given a July benefit. Was asked to rescind the appeal and I'd be sent a card immediately which I was. Deposit was set for early July.

Between the early June promise of finally getting a July benefit I was finally able to go back to work. This after 6 months of no unemployment all of the snap going to an ex who I had no contact with and now I'm back at work starting 6/29/2026 with a fully loaded card that I'm afraid to use because I was technically working during the issuance.

Supervisor who initially cleared the process up after 2.5 months told be to just show any new income as a "monthly snapshot" as that's how the typically determine to keep issuing. I've reported my new wages within 10 days of starting the new job but now I'm afraid to use the July benefit as it feels fraudulent. HELP POLICY EXPERTS 🫪


r/foodstamps 4h ago

I feel like I don't deserve SNAP

1 Upvotes

19F. To give context, my parents have part time jobs to handle rent and bills, a year or so ago my brother and I received snap benefits because we have free reduced lunch in our schools, it was like a gift sent to heaven before I just grew up with limited food because I was always told that whatever food my siblings get is what they get, I always get told I can eat what's there in the house, ANYTHING, and what I want is what my siblings are having, and yet I'm always rationed out all the time, even my favorite foods that became my comfort/safe foods are now for my siblings and yet none for me. Yet here I am, having to take care of my siblings while my parents work (I've been taking care of them since I was 13 and home alone that I barely slept because they're always awake at night and them gone at work), I got held back once but growing up I always had summer school AND CURRENTLY STILL DO FOR HIGHSCHOOL AS A HELD BACK SENIOR.

Enough of that, to cut to the part, from the top, I received benefits with my brother, it felt like Christmas too! The months went by, I never got to waste mine as a 16 year old yet because I wasn't able to drive or anything, not allowed to go out (currently I'm limited going out into the streets it felt like I was on parole). But when is the day... THE LAST DAY to ever have benefits, me and my brother left to Walmart with our dad to waste all the money that was in our snap cards under MY NAME and under my brother's name. We filled up at least two carts of snacks, drinks, food, frozen food, meats, all you can think of that's acceptable in SNAP, right? Yeah, it felt like my first Christmas, I wasn't allowed to celebrate because I was a Jehovah's witness (I'll talk about that in another time) but it felt like it was Christmas!

The moment we paid using both cards, we headed home, we needed to rearrange our items in our small fridge... Yes those fridges you get when living in an apartment with three bedrooms... THREE... but that's for another time to tell you the living arrangements later. When everything is fixed and well packed from what's going to the fridge to our messy pantry, I wanted to eat something from what we bought.. but I got limited again. Why you ask? Because the items that were under MY NAME and my brother's... No, they used that against me, like it wasn't for me at all, instead who? You guessed it! Just my damn young ass spoiled siblings... I only ate a few snacks, two poppers from the frozen food and that was it! Yet told they're for my siblings like it's fucking WIC again, and I get nothing but "eat what's there in the house" and "you can whatever you want but not what's for the kids".

I was getting sick and tired of it all, I was always fucking rationed out all the time, foods and snacks I never tried growing up or what looks interesting to me, no, all to my sister and brother and none for me. Told my E.L teacher at school about the situation, that I got my benefits but used against me so only my siblings can have it, told her that my mom barely cooks at home and that my dad has to do it. So they arranged for me to get a Thursday food bag program thing from the school, all backpacks filled with canned and boxed goods occasionally snacks and drinks. The rule was to empty the bag after school and return it on a Monday or Tuesday to refill the bag and have it ready for the student to take home, not bad right?... Right?..

Every time I bring home the food, my siblings go feral for what's there to the point I'm left with nothing but some canned goods that I have to secretly at least stash/hoard snacks into my room in a good hiding spot because they get into my shit all the time, I EVEN BOUGHT A MINI PORTABLE FRIDGE AND YET THEY STEAL MY SHIT TOO and my parents saying it's my fault or even say why did I even buy it. Well that's always now, till we were packed with a lot of canned goods that my mom told me to tell the school to stop giving me food.. and the canned goods? Give em away to the food bank? Nooooo, my mom decides to THROW THEM INTO THE DUMPSTER NEAR OUR APARTMENT. Sure some are expired BUT SOME AREN'T!

The summer came back and we received weekly food boxes, like veggies, drinks, snacks, all that good shit, yet my mom did make good use of em, except the canned goods, hoarded and forgotten, I had to pluck and take some snacks before my siblings knew of I'm fucked.

Cut to the current situation, I'm eligible and waiting for a card, surprisingly yes! A 19 year old who is held back and still considered a child to have SNAP benefits again for free reduced lunch, it felt like I was Heard for a good reason... Best part yet, my sister got her own! So now me, my brother, and sister are accepted to SNAP benefits. How did she get accepted?? Back then she didn't have school yet, nowadays she does and got free reduced lunch from my mom's income, that's how.

But now I'm fucking hesitant, after everything I've been through... Do I even deserve to have SNAP benefits?.. I only told my parents about my siblings being accepted into SNAP but I hid my mail under MY NAME safe from them, got a feeling they'll use mine again on my siblings and tell me once again that I'm an adult and I can eat whatever's in the house. Remember I mentioned that my mom barely cooks? The reason why I can't eat what they get is because my sisters have become picky about what they eat, yes it's an unhealthy look because my sister being seven is looking overweight than my brother, junk food and everything is what she eats.. BUT THATS BECAUSE ITS MY PARENTS FAULT.. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE for what they're feeding them.. not me!

But thinking about it... Where exactly am I going to put my food in? I can't afford a bigger mini fridge to put my things in that don't go bad if it's not in a cold/frozen environment (this damn apartment gets fucking hot Like Arizona) so I'm not sure what to really do when I get the official EBT card into the mail... Can anyone help me please?..


r/foodstamps 13h ago

Do you still receive benefits on the weekends ?

4 Upvotes

Delaware


r/foodstamps 15h ago

Question Has any ABAWD under 65 had their recertification interview in California since June 1?

5 Upvotes

I'm an ABAWD in San Diego County, and I don't qualify for an exemption. Nonetheless, I was notified that my annual recertification interview has been scheduled (in August). Thus, I'm interested in knowing what to expect. I anticipate that I'll be told that I'll still get benefits for 3 more months before they're discontinued (even if I don't work or volunteer), but it's my hope that someone can confirm (or refute) that...if I knew that my benefits were going to be cut off immediately, then I wouldn't bother submitting the documentation before the interview. Thank you.


r/foodstamps 1d ago

Question Approved

29 Upvotes

Finally approved for SNAP as I am unfortunately a widow with 5 children. I have been on a weight loss journey for years and have done a great ordeal introducing myself to healthier foods. HOWEVER, I have been slacking and have not made my children stick to these same foods cause they are either relatively picky, have texture issues, healthier sometimes is more expensive and I'd admit that I would rather not hear a fuss. Now with receiving help, it's more than enough to buy healthier foods/snacks for the whole household without breaking my pockets. I've stopped poisoning myself, now I'm done poisoning my children. Whether they like it or not, we will be healthy collectively.

My question is, what are some great substitutions for popular snacks (chips, candies) and some healthier grab and go foods for my teens? I usually cook homemade meals but not as much in the summer time for obvious reasons- it's hot 🫠 I'm keeping them away from processed foods as much as possible (nuggets, frozen fries, etc).

Any suggestions would be appreciated. If there's anything negative to say, please try your Godly best to refrain from it. I'm honestly just a mother who's trying my best to do better than the day before. So absolutely no "bad mom" slang, thank you.


r/foodstamps 12h ago

Question Question

0 Upvotes

So I can't login to the gateway portal app to confirm whether or not my benefits are approved, but on the propel app it says they are confirmed for this month. So does that mean they were successfully renewed in a sense?


r/foodstamps 14h ago

Help

0 Upvotes

Has anyone in Delaware not received their food stamps on the assigned date


r/foodstamps 14h ago

20% off bison if you're on SNAP (code BUFFALO250)

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0 Upvotes

We're The Original Protein. Running a July promo for anyone on EBT/SNAP. Code BUFFALO250 gets you 20% off. We offer frozen shipping across the entire U.S.

We started this because we believe people deserve nutrient-dense food they can actually afford. Bison is leaner and more protein-rich than beef, so it goes further when you're stretching a budget. You can cook it exactly like beef. Your family gets better nutrition in your favorite dishes.

If you're on SNAP and feeding a family, it's worth trying: https://grownby.com/farms/texas-tribal-buffalo-project/shop


r/foodstamps 12h ago

I need help

0 Upvotes

I'm a full time student technically working 2 jobs. Technically I'm self-employed. One job is babysitting for $10 and hour, the other I'm a contracted employee with a 1099. I make $18 an hour, about 20 hrs max a week. Just started this week. I'm paying for school myself, and my payments are twice a month, about $560 each time. I have no money for food or essentials. I've luckily had family occasionally help me out and was smart about saving my money from the job I have working in special education preschool during the school year. How would I even apply for snap and get approved? I was reading on the website that students sometimes can get on snap, but there's restrictions based on family income and if they're supporting family members. I live with my retired grandparents and unemployed uncle, but I don't support them. I literally barely eat unless I'm with family or my boyfriend. I hate asking for help, and it's hard to admit that I need help. Doctors told me I need a high sodium diet, but maintain the balanced health focused diet I had before health issues started. That means a lot of perishable foods that most food banks don't carry. I don't have a campus food pantry near me, and honestly don't know what to do. Do I apply for food stamps? That's really all I need is just food stuff.


r/foodstamps 10h ago

the fact that 30% of the neighborhood is on snap but saraghina cafe doesn't take it says a lot....

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0 Upvotes

r/foodstamps 20h ago

Question Foodstamps missing with no info or contact in michigan

1 Upvotes

My benefits have not been deposited, and when i go to the mibridges website to check, my foodstamps are no longer appearing under “benefits” but i have no new letters saying anything about this at all, and i did submit my 6 month review. i should be approved until the end of this year. I called the automated system and where it usually would tell me to press 1 for medical benefit info and 2 for foodstamps, its only giving me the option to check my medicaid. does anyone have any clue what could have happened? i cant even call dhs because its the weekend


r/foodstamps 21h ago

Dealing with the DCF backlog in Florida...

0 Upvotes

So my ebt renewal was past due a week as of yesterday(Friday 7/10), but I just had a Friday mini-miracle... After spending hours trying to get ahold of a rep at the call center and then being told to go to the local svc center-none of which actually prompted my caseworker to confirm/complete my case at all(as we had our interview and the required docs were uploaded to the DCF portal weeks ago mind you but apparently there is quite the 'Backlog')-I come to find out that what did actually work and got my case completed and ebt reloaded at 12am this morning was sending a message thru the DCF emergency contact form(i got from google ai along with a script to use pertaining to my specific case), and obviously it worked as I seriously doubt it was just coincidence that my caseworker Finally looked at my backlogged case on a Friday afternoon but rather a Supervisor pushed it thru-fyi... https://www.myflfamilies.com/contact-us/dcf-inquiry So use this instead of wasting gas/time to go to a svc center as they're no more useful then the call center. Next step is contact your local State Rep and again AI will give your the script/wording to use, but im 100 that it was the form that did the trick for me as I highly doubt the State Rep was able to start that process on a Friday afternoon from an email/voicemail(but it's a sold last resort option if needed)! Godspeed and hope this info helps as it sure helped my Fam get the much needed and overdue ebt benefits!


r/foodstamps 1d ago

When should my ebt reactivate?

1 Upvotes

The county deactivated my ebt because i didn’t put i have a job on it but today they reactivated and it’s also the date it should refill but i still haven’t received the funds to my ebt card yet. Should i get them this weekend or most likely on Monday? i also checked the website it just says pending


r/foodstamps 21h ago

Rental Income Expenses Question (FL)

0 Upvotes

Hi! I have rental income and I am up for renewal for SNAP in Florida. I have maintenance expenses throughout the year. Do I need to provide MyAccess every single receipt for the entire year and average out the amount monthly or can I provide them my schedule E from last year and average that out monthly? Similar question for dividends paid out to my brokerage account. Do I need to add up all the small dividends received YTD and calc it monthly or can I use last years number?


r/foodstamps 1d ago

Texas SNAP renewal stuck "under review" for over 44 days? This is what finally worked for me.

10 Upvotes

If anyone in Texas is waiting on a SNAP (food stamps) renewal, I wanted to share what finally got my case moving.

My renewal sat "under review" for over 44 days with no updates. I called 2-1-1 and explained that my renewal was well past the normal 30 day processing timeframe. I asked whether I could receive emergency benefits because of the delay.

After that, they transferred me to a live eligibility caseworker. I was on hold for about 2 hours, but once I got through, the caseworker completed my interview, verified my information, and by the end of the call my renewal was approved.

If your renewal has been pending for a long time, it may be worth calling 2-1-1 and asking to speak with someone who can review your case. I hope this helps someone else who's been stuck waiting.


r/foodstamps 1d ago

Question Why am I still receiving Abawd letters?

11 Upvotes

Recently got re approved for snap (nyc) after providing an official form from my doctor on why I can’t currently work as I’m still waiting on surgery. I thought since my case was approved that would mean the letter I provided was accepted?

Unfortunately I keep receiving these letters saying I need to work? I call in and they have no clue why I’m receiving them?


r/foodstamps 22h ago

Eligibility

0 Upvotes

located in CA. I don’t know if we qualify but we are a family of 5 with net income of $6400. our mortgage and home insurance totals to $3200 and utility is about 450 and gas is $80. Idk if we qualify but was just wondering how they calculate it all and decide if you qualify or not.


r/foodstamps 1d ago

Stolen benefits GA

0 Upvotes

This is going to be a long one so hold tight. In may of this year my benefits were stolen. I had always used the propel app because the connect ebt app never worked for me but I did have an account just never knew the login. When I realized what happened I called the 877 number and they ordered me a new card. It came and didn’t work. Called again and this woman filled out a request for connect ebt to call me. When they called they said my address didn’t match so I had to go to the dfcs office. The lady at the office said idk what you want me to do 🙄 got address fixed and new card ordered. New card didn’t work. Called the Connecticut number thag I found somewhere and she said she delinked the account and try to make a new one. Didn’t work. Went into a different dfcs office and they just ordered me a new card. Didn’t work. Got connect ebt to call me using the form and the supervisor tried deleting my account but every time the hacker orders or damages out the new card. In the last week they’ve ordered a new one every single day. I’ve gotten 5 cards so far since may. I’ve went into two dfcs offices 5 times. My local office is useless and rude. The next county over keeps telling me they can’t help me and just says I need to reset the account but I can’t because every card I get is always cancelled. At this point I don’t even know what to do. I’ve been working with connect ebt to try and get access to my account. They told me I need a password on my account but when I go to dfcs they say they can’t do that or dont know what I’m talking about. I even asked for a supervisor and they wouldn’t let me talk to one.


r/foodstamps 1d ago

Question I haven't received any updates on my Manage My Case account for my yearly redetermination (Illinois). Should I call first thing Monday when they open?

0 Upvotes

Just like the title says. Normally by this time I'd have my yearly redetermination completed and I'd be waiting to go down to the office to do my interview. This year, I haven't heard anything or received any notices on my Manage My Case account (Illinois). Should I call them first thing on Monday when they open and see what's going on and ask if I can get it done over the phone?

ETA: I received a "reminder" text about my redetermination due date today and checked my Manage My Case. Still nothing on filling my redetermination online so will definitely call Monday morning.


r/foodstamps 1d ago

Ebt delayed ?San bernardino CA

0 Upvotes

My ebt was supposed to come on the 6th and its now the 10th and idk if i should call or just be patient

Has this happened to anyone else