Alabama Food Stamps and EBT Guide

If you are trying to see if you are eligible to apply for Food stamps in Alabama (SNAP) or need more information about Alabama EBT, you’ve come to the right place. The Alabama food stamps and EBT program, also called the Food Assistance Program, is a federal nutrition program that helps low-income individuals and families buy food.

Food Stamps benefits can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, convenience stores, and some farmers’ markets.

The program is run at the state level by the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR).

If you apply and are approved for benefits, your monthly food stamps allocation will be given to you each month on a plastic card called an EBT (electronic benefits transfer) card, which works like a debit card.

We have provided below everything you need to know to successfully apply for food stamps. We have also explained how EBT Card works and what you can expect with your card if you are approved for food stamps.

In this post, we will cover the following:

• Should I apply for Alabama Food Stamps?
• Who is Eligible for Alabama Food Stamps?
• 2019/2020 Alabama Food Stamps Income Limit
• How Much Will I Recieve in Alabama Food Stamps?
• How to Apply for Alabama Food Stamps
• How long to get Approved for Alabama Food Stamps?
• What is Alabama EBT Card?
• What can I buy with EBT in Alabama?
• What time are Food Stamps EBT deposited in Alabama?
• How to Check Alabama EBT Card Balance?
• How Do I Get an Alabama EBT Card Replacement?
• Alabama EBT Discounts, Perks and Freebies

Should I apply for Alabama Food Stamps?

If you’ve hit tough times and are struggling to afford food for yourself or your family, you should consider applying for food stamps.

The food stamps program is a federal entitlement program. This means anyone who is eligible will receive benefits. You will not be taking away benefits from someone else if you apply.

In addition, the food stamps program is a nutrition program and not a welfare cash assistance program (which is called TANF). You do not have to be receiving TANF to get food stamps.

Who is Eligible for Alabama Food Stamps?

The food stamps program is SNAP focused on helping low-income individuals and families, predominantly serving households with children, elderly or disabled members.

Nearly half of all food stamps participants are children.

Eligibility for SNAP is limited to people with gross incomes up to 130% of the federal poverty line.

This means that a family of four can make no more than $2,790 a month to receive benefits.

Able-bodied adults without dependents can only receive three months of benefits during any three-year period if they’re not working a minimum of 20 hours per week or participating in a training program.

There are several requirements you have to meet to be approved for Alabama food stamps and EBT, however, the most important is the income limit.

As stated above, to be eligible for food stamps, your gross income cannot exceed 130% of the federal poverty line.

In addition, after deductions are taken out, your net income cannot exceed 100% of the poverty level.

2019/2020 Alabama Food Stamps Income Limit

Below is the 2019/2020 food stamps income limit. It is based on the number of people in your household. For example, if you are a family of 4, you cannot make more than a gross income of $2,790 to qualify for food stamps.

How Much Will I Recieve in Alabama Food Stamps?

The amount of food stamps benefits a household gets depends on how many people are in the household and how much monthly net income remains after taking allowable deductions.

Because food stamps households are expected to spend about 30 percent of their own resources on food, the amount of food stamps you get is calculated by multiplying your household’s net monthly income by 0.3, and subtracting the result from the maximum monthly allotment for your household size.

Alabama Food Stamps Work Requirement

The state of Alabama has very strict work requirements when it comes to eligibility for food stamps. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the work requirements below before applying for benefits.

Unless exempt from work registration, each member of your household must meet the following work requirements:

• • must be registered for work
  • must not quit a job voluntarily
  • must not voluntarily reduce hours at a job
  • must accept a suitable job that is offered. (The job must be 30 hours weekly or equal to 30 hours X minimum wage).

If a non-exempt member of your household fails to meet work requirements, he or she cannot get food assistance. This could reduce or stop your household’s food assistance.

People between 18 and 50 years old who have no children and are not disabled must meet other special work requirements if they want to get food assistance.

There are exceptions to the three-month time limit.

Someone between 18 and 50 can get food assistance for more than three months if the person meets any one of these exceptions:

• The person works at least 80 hours a month.
• The person receives disability benefits.
• The person receives unemployment compensation.
• Anyone who has applied for unemployment compensation but has not heard yet is also exempt while waiting for a decision.
• The person who is not receiving disability but has a physical or mental problem that limits the work [s]he can do. This may have to be verified by a doctor or other medical
• professional.
• The person is unfit for work. For example, chronic homelessness may be an indicator that someone is unfit for work.
• There is a child in the homeless than 18 years old
• The person cares for an adult who is incapacitated
• The person is pregnant.
• The person gets Family Assistance and is in a Family Assistance work program.
• The person goes to a job training program at least 80 hours a month.
• The person volunteers at least 80 hours a month doing something that serves a public purpose.
• The total amount of time the person spends each month working, going to training and volunteering is at least 80 hours a month.
• The person goes to school at least half time.
• The person goes to rehab for alcohol or drugs.
• The person works at least 80 hours a month for non-monetary benefits. For example, the person works for free rent or utilities.

How to Apply for Alabama Food Stamps

There are 3 ways you can apply for food stamps in Alabama.

Option 1 – Apply online

You can apply online through the Alabama MyDHR account (as shown in the image below). If you have an account, you can login or create your MyDHR Account. Click here to be taken to the website.

Option 2 – Apply at DHR Office Near You

You can apply in person at the Alabama Department of Human Resources office near you. Click here to locate a DHR office.

Option 3 – Download Alabama Food Stamps Application

You can download an application, complete it and mail it to your county DHR office or submit it in person.

How long to get Approved for Alabama Food Stamps?

Once you submit a complete application, your caseworker will schedule an interview with you to review your application information and ask any questions they may have about the information you submitted.

Generally, a decision will be made on your food stamps application within 30 days of the day you submitted a COMPLETE application.

What is an Alabama EBT Card?

The Alabama EBT Card is used to administer your monthly benefits.

If you are approved for food stamps, your monthly food stamps allocation will be given to you each month on an Alabama EBT Card, which works like a debit card.

What can I buy with EBT in Alabama?

You are allowed to use your food stamps benefits card to buy foods that your household will prepare to eat at home, including the following

• breads and cereals
• fruits and vegetables
• meats, fish and poultry; and
• dairy products
• Seeds and plants to produce food for the household to eat
• Soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers, and ice cream
• Seafood, steak, and bakery cakes
• Energy drinks that have a nutrition facts label
• Energy drinks that have a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements and are therefore not eligible

Now that you know what you can buy with your SNAP card, here is the list of things you CANNOT buy with the card:

• Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
• Any nonfood items, such as pet foods, soaps, paper products, diapers, and household supplies
• Vitamins and medicines
• Food that will be eaten in the store
• Hot foods
• Live animals

NOTE: In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals.

What time are food stamps EBT deposited in Alabama?

Generally, your EBT payment is available at midnight on your payment date.

Food Stamps Benefits in Alabama are deposited on EBT Cards from the 4th of the month to the 23rd of every month. When your payment is made depends on the last two digits of your case number. Here is the schedule of payment based on the last two digits of your case number:

Note the following Exceptions:

Monthly – SNAP benefits are available the same calendar date each month.

Daily – SNAP benefits are available the next day after they are entered in the system if the benefit is for the past month or the current month.

Residents of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers – Special issuance provisions are used for these SNAP benefits. One half of the regular monthly allotment is available on the 4th of the month and the remaining one half of the allotment is available on the 16th of the month.

How to Check Alabama EBT Card Balance?

There are three ways to check your Alabama EBT Card balance.

Option 1

Call 1-800-997-8888 to check the balance on your Alabama EBT Card

Option 2

• You can check the balance online here

Option 3

• You can also check the balance by locating your Last Receipt

How Do I Get an Alabama EBT Card Replacement?

To report your card lost, stolen, damaged, or not received in the mail call the Alabama EBT Customer Service number at – 1-800-997-8888.

If your EBT card is stolen and benefits are used these benefits cannot be replaced.

You can also call the number above for the following:

• To report your card lost, stolen, damaged, or not received in the mail.
• To know the date your benefits will be available in your account each month.
• To know if your benefits have been deposited into your account and get your account balance.
• To hear your last 10 transactions.
• To file a claim if you question a transaction in your account.
• If you want to select or change your PIN.
• If your card does not work.
• To find the nearest location where you can use your card.
• If you have other questions about or problems with your card.

Alabama EBT Discounts

Your Alabama EBT Card comes with some perks, discounts, and freebies.

Sign up for Amazon Prime Discount for EBT Holders

Amazon.com has announced that beneficiaries enrolled in some government assistance programs can now get Amazon Prime subscriptions for $5.99 a month. EBT Cardholders are included in this offer.

This means that if you are currently receiving benefits on an EBT card, like Food Stamps, you can sign up for Amazon Prime discount for EBT holders. To sign up, click here to be taken to their sign-up page.

The regular Amazon Prime membership is $12.99 a month. However, if you have an EBT Card, you can get Prime Membership for $5.99. That’s over 50% off the regular price.

Home Phone and Cell Phone Services

If you are currently on Food Stamps, and your income is below a certain level, you may qualify for FREE or low-cost cell phone or home phone service for you or a member of your family through the Federal Lifeline Program, which serves nearly 13 million Americans.

This program provides discounts on cell phone service or home phone service for qualifying low-income consumers, including those on Food Stamps. Here are the companies that participate in the program in the state of Alabama. 

There are different companies providing cell phone and home phone service. Be sure to view the “Type of Service” column to make sure you are selecting the right company.

Alabama Food Stamps EBT Summary

We hope this post on Alabama Food Stamps EBT was helpful.

If you have further questions about SNAP Benefits & EBT, or Personal Finance topics affecting low-income households, please let us know in the comments section below.

Be sure to check out our other articles on low-income personal finance. 

• WIC Program Eligibility
• How to file for Unemployment Benefits
• Way2Go Card California for Child Support
• How to Claim Earned Income Tax Credits