Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are vital to many families in the beautiful state of Alabama, providing food support to low-income households. In 2024, the program continues to function as economic support by distributing funds through an EBT (Electronic Benefits transfer) card, allowing the purchase of essential foods in approved stores.
These food stamps (how the SNAP benefits used to be called) funds are intended exclusively for the purchase of fresh, preserved, or canned foods, as long as they are permitted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Eligibility Criteria for SNAP benefits in Alabama
As in the rest of the states and territories of the United States where SNAP benefits operate, in the state of Alabama, applying households must meet certain eligibility requirements. In addition to passing eligibility tests when first approved, recipients must undergo periodic reviews and recertifications, to determine if they continue to qualify.
To be eligible for SNAP benefits in 2024, applicants in Alabama must meet certain criteria based on factors such as income, resources and household composition. Typical eligibility requirements are outlined below:
- Household income must not exceed the federal poverty limits, a guideline defined by the USDA.
- Available household resources, such as bank accounts, cash, and other assets, must be below certain established limits. However, some things like housing and most retirement plans are typically exempt.
- Applicants must be permanent residents of the state of Alabama, and also U.S. citizens or immigrants with certain eligible immigration statuses.
- Some people must meet work requirements (able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD), such as participating in approved work programs or being available for work, unless they are exempt (for example, due to advanced age, disability, or parenting children).
SNAP Payment Dates in Alabama
In the state of Alabama there are more than 760,000, and their payment date is assigned based on the last two numbers of the case number they were assigned when they were approved to receive their food stamp allotments.
- The benefits are distributed from the 4th to the 23rd of each month, according to the last two digits of the client’s case number.
- If the case number ends in:
- 00-04 = benefits available on 4 of the month
- 05-09 = benefits available on 5 of the month
- 10-14 = benefits available on 6 of the month
- 15-19 = benefits available on 7 of the month
- 20-24 = benefits available on 8 of the month
- 25-29 = benefits available on 9 of the month
- 30-34 = benefits available on 10 of the month
- 35-39 = benefits available on 11 of the month
- 40-44 = benefits available on 12 of the month
- 45-49 = benefits available on 13 of the month
- 50-54 = benefits available on 14 of the month
- 55-59 = benefits available on 15 of the month
- 60-64 = benefits available on 16 of the month
- 65-69 = benefits available on 17 of the month
- 70-74 = benefits available on 18 of the month
- 75-79 = benefits available on 19 of the month
- 80-84 = benefits available on 20 of the month
- 85-89 = benefits available on 21 of the month
- 90-94 = benefits available on 22 of the month
- 95-99 = benefits available on 23 of the month
