Income Guidelines for Getting Food Stamps in Iowa
- Food stamps help feed needy families.apples and oranges image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
In Iowa, food stamps are issued in the form of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. These cards work just like debit cards and can be used at grocery stores, discount stores and farmer's markets to purchase food. Citizens and legal immigrants are eligible for food stamps in Iowa, if they meet the income requirements. You can apply for benefit in person at a Department of Human Services office, or online at the Iowa DHS website. - In order to qualify for food stamps in Iowa, a household's monthly gross income can't exceed levels set by the state. Gross income includes all income coming into the house each month, from wages and any other sources, such as child support. As of 2010, the monthly gross income thresholds were: $1,174 for one person, $1,579 for two people, $1,984 for three people, $2,389 for four people, $2,794 for five people, $3,200 for six people, $3,605 for seven people and $4,010 for eight people. For households with more than eight people, add $406 for each additional person.
Households in which at least one person receives disability income, or is age 59 or older, or in which all member of the household receive Social Security Income (SSI) have higher gross income thresholds, which vary depending on circumstances and are set by the state. - If applicants for food aid meet the gross income requirements, they next must also meet net income requirements. Net income levels are set to allow for payment of monthly expenses such as housing and utilities. Iowa had set the maximum monthly net income thresholds as of 2010 at $903 for one person, $1,215 for two people, $1,526 for three people, $1,838 for four people; $2,150 for five people, $2,461 for six people, $2,773 for seven people and $3,085 for eight people. Add an additional $312 for each additional person in the household.
- A person cannot qualify for food stamps in Iowa if she has resources such as savings accounts, stocks and bonds or property worth more than $2,000 for most households--$3,000 for households in which one or more members of the household is on disability or is 60 years old or older. One motor vehicle per household and certain retirement and education accounts are excluded from these resources.
