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Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. |
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Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. |
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Expedited Food Stamps
© 1997-2006 by Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
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1. Your household has $100 or less in liquid resources and less than $150 in gross monthly income. Liquid resources are money that is available to you, such as cash on hand, bank accounts, savings certificates, and lump-sum payments (tax refunds, retroactive lump-sum Social Security, SSI, or public assistance payments).
2. You are a migrant or seasonal farm worker without money or resources.
3. Together, your monthly income and liquid resources are less than the total of your monthly rent or mortgage and heating costs and utilities (electricity, telephone, and water).
How do I apply for Expedited Food Stamps?
Go to the first floor of the Rath Building, 95 Franklin Street, Buffalo, New
York.
Tell the worker that you are in need of Expedited Food Stamps.
The worker should give you an application to fill out. The only thing you will
have
to prove to get your first month of food stamps is your identity. You can show
your identity
by producing a driver's license, birth certificate, or Social Security card,
library card, etc.
If you don't have written proof, the worker should use collateral contacts
(e.g., calling your
friends, neighbors, etc.) to verify your identity. If you have problems with
this, feel free to
contact our office at 847-0650.
What happens next?
You will be screened for expedited food stamps. The screening must be conducted
on the same day you request Expedited Food Stamps. You should be notified the
same day
if you are eligible or not.
How long will it take for me to get my Food Stamps?
You will get Expedited Food Stamps within 5 calendar days. If you have no food,
ask
for an immediate referral to a food pantry.
If I am approved for Expedited Food Stamps, will I continue to receive Food
Stamps
from month-to-month?
Not automatically. In order to continue receiving Food Stamps, you must complete
the regular application process. This means that you will be called back for
another interview
and asked to submit certain documents. If you do not follow through, you will
not continue
to receive Food Stamps.
What if I cannot go to the Department of Social Services to apply for Expedited
Food
Stamps?
If you can't travel for medical reasons or because you do not have
transportation, you
can appoint a representative to go to DSS and apply for Expedited Food Stamps
for you.
If you don't have anyone to appoint as your representative, you can call the
Food
Stamp Office at 858-8347 and ask them to waive the face-to-face interview. If
they agree,
an application will be mailed to you to fill out and mail back.
It is important that you mail back the application as soon as possible, because
the
processing period will not begin until the signed application is received by
DSS.
If you need help filling out the application, ask for a telephone interview.
After the
interview, DSS will mail the completed application for you to sign.
What if I have trouble getting Expedited Food Stamps?
If you are not allowed to apply for Expedited Food Stamps or are denied them,
you should
immediately request an expedited fair hearing by telephone, fax, or mail to:
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Office of Administrative Hearings
P.O. Box 1930
Albany, New York 12201-1930
Telephone: 1-800-342-3334
Fax No.: (518) 473-6735 (you will need a fair hearing request for available at this link.)
You must state that you want an expedited fair hearing so that the hearing will be scheduled quickly (within about 10 days). If you need further assistance, call our office at 847-0650.
