How much money can a family receive?
The amount of money a family can receive depends of many factors in the household. It depends of source of income, expenses you pay for and family size. The more family members you have the more much your likely to receive but, if you receive a source of income the amount of money for SNAP benefits can decrease. For example, a family of three with a mother and two daughters; if the mother is on disability and a daughter is working the amount of money will decrease because there is a source of income in the household. (SNAP Program Income Eligibility Standards; http://www.massresources.org/snap-financial-eligibility.html#deductions)
Who is eligible for food stamps? (http://www.massresources.org/snap-general-eligibility.html)
There are many requirements to be eligible for food stamps in Massachusetts. You must live in Massachusetts, meet the financial eligibility requirements, social security numbers, must be U.S Citizens, and meet the work requirements. Some people can not receive SNAP assistance because of certain reasons which include; non-citizens, don’t have a Social Security number because of immigration. Seniors and people with disabilities can apply for food stamps and get accepted. Seniors and people with disabilities applying is different then others. They do not have to meet food stamp work requirements, can have a telephone interview or home visit instead of going down to the office for an interview.
Are there other programs to help people like food stamps? (http://www.massresources.org/snap-benefits.html#otherbenefits) (http://www.massresources.org/utility-discounts.html)
Other programs to help families are utility bills and telephone services. When eligible for SNAP benefits families are automatically enrolled in the utility discount rate programs. This includes help assistance’s with heating, electricity and gas. If you apply you can get 10% to 15% off the utility bill. Telephone services that can be provided if eligible are either SafeLink Wireless or Assurance Wireless. Theses telephone services provide a free cell phone with free 250 minutes.
Where can you apply for food stamps benefits?(http://www.massresources.org/snap-apply.html)
You can apply for food stamps by filling out an application and either bring it, send it, fax it or complete it online to the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). The DTA is in charge of the food stamp program and makes the decision if you apply or not. You can also apply at your local Social Security Office if you receive SSI benefits.
Do you need to have a drug test to be eligible for it?
When did food stamps begin and why ?
This is a much more workable topic. I’d encourage you to do a bit more brainstorming about quesitons. I’d include some broader ones (not all so closely focused on how one gets food stamps). Some suggestions: info about hunger in US, or Mass.; stats on particpation in food stamp program, maybe over time; history of different approaches to helping people with food needs and/or of food stamp programspecifically. Look at phrasing too–that last quesiton is a yes/no question that doesn’t lead to full para. Maybe something broader abot opposiiton to food stamp programs?
Look for more comprehensive sources too, not just Mass. govt sites but also articles or books. (You need at least two that originally appeared in print.)
Also need work on in-text citations. Can include at end of para. if all info in the para. comes from tht one source, but should be author’s last name or, if no author, title of article or website (that’s the simple version; it can get more complex for unusual situaitons). Also of course you’ll need a works cited page for final draft.