The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), created to give low-income families access to the food they need for a nutritious diet, benefits millions of Americans every year.
15 percent of North Carolina residents participated in SNAP in the fiscal year 2021, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. According to CBPP, recent data also reveals that 12.1% of North Carolinians experienced food insecurity, which meant that their access to food was constrained by a lack of money.
Here’s where in Charlotte you may utilize your SNAP benefits and how to apply for them.
Where in Charlotte Can I Find Immediate Food Assistance
Call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-348-6479 for emergency food assistance. On Monday through Friday, the hotline is open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. For assistance, people might also get in touch with their neighborhood church or food bank.
Who Can Receive SNAP Benefits?
You qualify for SNAP benefits if your yearly income is equal to or less than 130 percent of the federal poverty level. To find out if you qualify, go to benefits.gov and choose your household size. There are three methods to apply, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services:
- Apply with ePASS online.
- Visit the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services to submit an application (DSS)
- Complete an application, then mail it or deliver it to the DSS office.
According to NCDHHS, your benefits will be given on an Electronic Benefits Transfer card, which resembles a bank card, if your application is accepted.
Recipients who are unable to buy for themselves due to a disability may choose a dependable relative or friend as their approved representative. This individual will be given an EBT card with full access to the recipient’s account so they may make purchases on their behalf. Phone the DSS call center at 704-336-3000 to designate a representative.
Where in Charlotte Can I Use SNAP Benefits
More than 500 retailers in Charlotte, including Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Publix, Aldi, and dollar store locations, are listed as accepting food stamps on the SNAP Retailer Locator page of the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.
The USDA states that EBT cards can only be used to buy:
- Vegetables and fruits
- Fish and meat
- dairy goods
- Cereals and bread
- Snacks Plants and seeds that generate food for domestic consumption.
Benefits cannot be used to buy alcohol, cigarettes, paper goods, detergents, or other consumables.
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