How To Apply For Food Stamps In Montana

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federally funded program that offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families. The program is run by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). If you live in this state and need to apply for a Montana EBT Card, then the information below shows you how to apply for food stamps in Montana. If you have additional questions or concerns about the Montana SNAP program or the EBT application process, please contact the Montana Human & Community Services Division for assistance.

Who Is Eligible For The Montana SNAP Program?

• Please Read This Before You Apply For Snap Benefits.
• People who live together and buy food and prepare meals together are grouped as a household for SNAP. Husbands and wives, and children under age 22 living with their natural, adoptive or stepparents must be considered as one household.
• Household members that wish to be included must be U.S. citizens or legal aliens.
• Household members that wish to be included must furnish or apply for a SSN.
• Income and resource guidelines listed in this overview must be met.
• Able-bodied household members who are age 16 through 59 must register for work, and may be required to participate in a SNAP Employment and Training Program unless a specified exemption is met.

Where Do Households Go To Apply For Snap Benefits?

• Apply online at apply.mt.gov.
• Call or visit your local Office of Public Assistance.
• Download the PDF application.

Expedited Services
The intent of expedited services is to make food benefits available within seven calendar days of the application date to eligible households who meet the following criteria:

• Households with less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in liquid resources; or
• Migrant or seasonal farm worker households with $100 or less in liquid resources; OR
• Households with a combined monthly gross income and liquid resources less than the household's monthly rent (or mortgage) and utilities.

Financial Criteria
Income - Households who meet the gross and net income standards listed below may participate in SNAP. Households who meet the gross monthly income standard are then evaluated for the net monthly income standard after allowable deductions have been taken into consideration.

Resources
Resources of individuals that meet the Expanded Categorical Eligibility criteria are excluded. If all members of your household meet Expanded Categorical Eligibility criteria all household resources will be excluded. In order to determine if members of your household meet this criteria please contact your local Office of Public Assistance.

If the household does not meet Expanded Categorical Eligibility criteria, countable household resources cannot exceed:

• $3,000 for households that include a member age 60 or over, or include a disabled household member, and
• $2000 for all other households.

The home you live in, vehicles, tax-preferred educational and retirement accounts, and combat-related military pay are excluded as resources. Households in which all household members are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance, tribal TANF cash assistance, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are not subject to a resource limit.

Deductions
Allowable deductions for SNAP are listed below. The following deductions can be subtracted from countable income when determining a household's SNAP benefits:

• Twenty percent (20%) of the total gross earned income for each household;
• A standard deduction of the net income limit based on the household size;
• Certain dependent-care costs;
• Legally owed and paid child support;
• A percentage of shelter costs; and
• A medical expense deduction can be allowed for the portion of non-reimbursable medical expenses that exceed $35 per month per household. This deduction is allowed for elderly and disabled household members.