FNS (Food Stamps)

The Food and Nutrition Services Program (formerly Food Stamps) is a federal program that provides a monthly allotment of food assistance via Electronic Benefit Transfer cards (debit cards) to individuals and households to help them to buy the food they need for a nutritional diet. Households are issued a card to pay for their groceries at participating stores using the card at the checkout counter. Benefits cannot be used to purchase tobacco, pet food, paper products, soap products, or alcoholic beverages.

AM I ELIGIBLE?

• You must be a US Citizen or qualified legal immigrant
• You must have, or have applied for, a Social Security Number
• You must meet the income and reserve requirements

You can check to see if you are eligible online now at North Carolina ePASS

You can also check to see if you are eligible using the gross income table at: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/food-and-nutrition-services-food-stamps

WAYS TO APPLY:

• Apply online at https://epass.nc.gov/
• Apply at Johnston County DSS at 714 North Street Smithfield NC 27577. Applications are taken between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday (except holidays)
• Request that an application be mailed to you by calling 919-989-5300

FNS Recertifications and Changes: FNS Recertification documents must be returned by the due date. Documents can be mailed in, dropped off using the DSS drop boxes located outside of the DSS building, or dropped off in the drop box inside of building 1.

ABAWDS: Effective July 1, 2016 the Food and Nutrition Program will be implementing a policy as required by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This policy is known as able-bodied adults without dependent children (ABAWD). This policy applies to individuals who are 18 years of age through age 49, who are physically and mentally fit and those who are included in a food and nutrition household that does not have a child under age 18. Individuals who do not meet an allowable exemption will be limited in the number of months they can receive FNS benefits.

For more information contact: 919-989-5300

RELATED LINKS:

Food and Nutrition Services of North Carolina – FNS For NC

US Department of Agriculture – https://www.usda.gov/