Tag: Extra Food Stamps are Ending

Regresó el Límite de Tiempo de Tres Meses para el Programa de Cupones de Alimentos

Posted on


¿Qué es el límite de tiempo de tres meses?

Empezando en julio 1, 2023, si usted es menor de 50 años y no vive con niños, solo podrá recibir cupones de alimentos durante tres meses, a menos que esté trabajando o cumpla con alguna excepción.

Excepciones: NO tiene un límite de tiempo si:

  • Tiene 50 o más. Es menor de 18 años
  • Reside en un hogar con niños, que recibe cupones para alimentos
  • Cuenta con un beneficio basado en discapacidad (Seguro Social, SSI, pensión VA, compensación de trabajadores, seguro privado)
  • No es apto para trabajar en este momento según criterio médico
  • Se encuentra estudiando o tomando clases, al menos media jornada (aplican reglas especiales)
  • Está embarazada
  • Ha solicitado o recibe beneficios de desempleo
  • Se encuentra en un programa de tratamiento de drogas/alcohol o en necesidad de este tratamiento
  • No tiene hogar
  • Cuida a una persona discapacitada
  • No puede trabajar 20 horas a la semana.
  • Se aplican algunas otras excepciones

¿Cómo puedo mantener mis cupones de alimentos si el límite de tiempo me aplica?

  • Trabajar al menos 20 horas a la semana. Dentro de un trabajo, su propio negocio o en cambio de bienes y/o servicios.
  • Ser voluntario 20 horas/semana
  • Realizar capacitación laboral a través de DSS 20 horas/semana
  • Cualquier combinación de las anteriores sumando hasta 20 horas/semana

Llame a su DSS local si tiene preguntas sobre

El límite de tiempo o si necesita ayuda para demostrar que el límite no le aplica. O si desea encontrar opciones de trabajo voluntario o capacitaciones:

Contacte a una de las siguientes organizaciones mencionadas a continuación

Si sus cupones de alimentos fueron suspendidos o negados, o si desea hablar con un abogado sobre sus derechos.

Preguntas frecuentes:

¿Qué debes hacer si crees que una de estas razones le aplica?

Contacte a su DSS local. Si su trabajador de caso determina que una de estas razones le aplica, no será necesario que siga estas Reglas de Límite de Tiempo. Es posible que se requiera evidencia de una excepción o el cumplimiento de los requisitos de trabajo. En tal caso, tiene el derecho de solicitar que el DSS le ayude a recopilar pruebas.

¿Qué sucede si tuve una buena razón para no trabajar?

Si tuvo una “buena causa” para trabajar menos de 20 horas/semana, el DSS no debería terminar sus cupones de alimentos. Buenas causas para no cumplir con las horas de trabajo incluyen enfermedad, problemas de transporte o mal tiempo que haya cerrado el lugar de trabajo. El DSS solicitará pruebas de la buena causa.

¿Qué sucede si mis beneficios de cupones de alimentos se reducen o terminan debido al límite de tiempo pero no debería haberse terminado?

El DSS está obligado a brindarle un aviso por escrito antes de una reducción o terminación propuesta de los beneficios, con al menos 10 días hábiles antes de que tome dicha acción. El aviso debe indicar el motivo de la acción, la fecha efectiva de la acción, el nombre y la información de contacto de la persona con la que debe comunicarse para solicitar más información o solicitar una audiencia justa para impugnar la acción. En la recertificación, su trabajador de caso deberá revisar su elegibilidad para excepciones de manera retroactiva.

Tiene el derecho de solicitar una audiencia si no está de acuerdo con la decisión del DSS. Esta puede ser solicitada contactando a su DSS local en persona, por teléfono o por escrito.

¿Qué otra información debería conocer?

Puede recuperar sus beneficios si comienza a cumplir con los requisitos de trabajo o con alguna de las excepciones. También puede calificar para un segundo período de 3 meses de cupones de alimentos si cumplió con las reglas de trabajo en el pasado. Asegúrese de proporcionar al DSS la información más actualizada sobre su empleo o excepciones.

¿Qué otros recursos alimentarios están disponibles?

  1. WIC: Si tiene un hijo menor de 5 años y/o está embarazada o amamantando, es posible que sea elegible para WIC. Obtenga más información sobre WIC y complete una referencia a WIC en línea en https://www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwicreferral.
  2. 211: Visite www.nc211.org o marque 211 para conectarse con recursos comunitarios de alimentos.
  3. Bancos de Alimentos: Puedes encontrar bancos de alimentos locales visitando https://www.foodpantries.org/.
  4. NC Care 360: Solicite ayuda o encuentre recursos haciendo clic en la pestaña “Para Individuos” en https://nccare360.org/.
  5. FindHelp: Encuentre alimentos y otros recursos en https://www.findhelp.org/.

The Return of the Three-Month Time Limit for Food Stamps

Posted on

Updated March, 5 2024

Ver información en Español 

What is the Three-Month Time Limit for Food Stamps? 

Starting July 1, 2023, if you are an adult under 53 (under 55 as of October 1, 2024) who does not live with children, you can only receive food stamps for three months unless you are working or meet an exception. These are known as the ABAWD rules (Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents). These requirements may only apply to some people in your household. 

The ABAWD time limit was suspended through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act beginning on April 1, 2020. The three-month time limit returned to North Carolina on July 1st, 2023.  

Exceptions – You do NOT have a time limit if you are: 

  • Age 53 or older (55 or older as of October 1, 2024)
  • Under age 18
  • Living with children (even if not yours)
  • Pregnant
  • Foster children under age 25 (had to be in foster care at the time of their 18th birthday)
  • In school or taking classes at least part-time (special rules apply; exempted through work registration rules)
  • Veterans (includes all branches, reserve components and National Guard, regardless of discharge characterization)
  • Receiving a disability-based benefit (Social Security, SSI, VA pension, Workers Comp, private insurance)
  • Caring for a disabled person or child under 6 (does not need to live in same household; exempted through work registration rules)
  • Unfit for work at this time according to a doctor’s office
  • Unable to work 20 hours per week
  • Applying for or getting Unemployment Benefits (exempted through work registration rules)
  • If you are making over $217.50 per week, regardless of number of hours worked (exempted through work registration rules)
  • In a drug or alcohol treatment program or in need of that treatment
  • Homeless
  • Some other exceptions apply

How can I keep my food stamps if the time limit applies to me? 

  1. Work at least 20 hours/week, including at a job, your own business, or in exchange for goods or services 
  1. Do job training through DSS 20 hours/week 
  1. Volunteer 20 hours/week 
  1. Any combination of the above 

Call your local Department of Social Services (DSS) if you have questions about the time limit, you need help showing the limit does not apply to you, or to find volunteer work or training:

Mecklenburg County

Phone number: 704-336-3000

Wallace H. Kuralt Centre
301 Billingsley Road, Charlotte, NC 28211

Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center
430 Stitt Road, Charlotte, NC 28213

Community Resource Center
3205 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208

Union County

Phone number: 704-296-4300
2330 Concord Ave, Monroe, NC 28110

Cabarrus County

Phone number: 704-920-1400
1303 S Cannon Blvd, Kannapolis, NC 28083

Contact one of the organizations below if your food stamps are stopped or denied, or if you would like to speak with a lawyer about your rights. FREE legal assistance is available:

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

Mecklenburg County
English: 704-376-1600
Spanish: 800-247-1931

Legal Aid of North Carolina

All other NC counties
866-219-5262

Pisgah Legal Services

Western NC
800-489-6144

Frequently Asked Questions 

What should you do if you believe one of the exceptions apply to you? 

Contact your local DSS. If your caseworker finds that one of these reasons apply to you, you will not need to follow these Time Limit Rules. Proof of an exception or meeting the work requirements may be required. If so, you have the right to request that DSS assist you in gathering proof.  

What if I have a good reason for missing work? 

If you have a “good cause” for working under 20 hours/week, DSS should not terminate your food stamps. Good causes for missing hours of work include: illness, transportation issues, or bad weather that shut down the workplace. DSS will ask for proof of the good cause. 

What if my Food Stamp benefits are reduced or end due to the time limit but should not have been?  

DSS is required to give you advanced written notice of a proposed reduction or termination of benefits of at least 10 business days before they take such action. The notice must state the reason for the action, the effective date of the action, and the name and contact information of the person to contact to request more information or to request a fair hearing to challenge the action. At recertification, your caseworker must review your eligibility for exceptions retroactively. 

You have the right to request a hearing if you do not agree with DSS’s decision. You can request a hearing by contacting your local DSS in person, by telephone, or in writing.  

What else should I know? 

You can get your benefits back if you start meeting the work requirements or an exception. You may also qualify for a second 3-month period of food stamps if you met the work rules in the past. Make sure you are providing DSS with the most current information regarding your employment or exceptions.  

What other food resources are available?  

  1. WIC: If you have a child under 5 and/or are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may be eligible for WIC. Learn more about WIC and complete a WIC referral online at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwicreferral.  
  1. 211: Visit www.nc211.org or dial 211 to be connected to community food resources. 
  1. Food Pantries: You can find local food pantries by visiting https://www.foodpantries.org.
  1. NC Care 360: Request help or find resources by clicking the “For Individuals” tab on https://nccare360.org.  
  1. FindHelp: Find food and other resources at https://www.findhelp.org.

Emergency Food Stamp Allotments End This Month Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy Shares Four Steps for Those Impacted

Posted on

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy is raising awareness of a sudden pandemic-related public benefit decrease that will impact many low-income families. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service announced that the temporary increase in SNAP benefits (known as food stamps) put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic will end this February. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 law recently passed by Congress ends the emergency allotment of an additional $95 per month or more that families have received since March 2020. There will be no emergency allotment included in families’ March 2023 benefit. More information is available on the USDA’s website; easy to understand resources for families affected can be found on the Advocacy Center’s website.

The Advocacy Center has four recommendations for North Carolina residents:

  1. Review current SNAP benefits through www.ebtedge.com, the EBTEdge mobile app or by calling the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328.
  2. Compare. Those not already receiving the maximum monthly benefit may be able to increase benefits by reporting changes, including certain income and expenses.
  3. Contact DSS to report changes.
    a. There are several circumstances that may result in increased benefits such as: decreased income, increases in rent, mortgage or property taxes, and added expenses of caring for a child or disabled adult.
    b. The Advocacy Center also encourages heads of households to ensure the Department of Social Services has their current address.
  4. Call an advocate if something goes wrong. Those who have taken the above steps and still think something is wrong with their food stamps should contact a legal advocate for assistance. The Advocacy Center helps those in Mecklenburg County, and Legal Aid of North Carolina and Pisgah Legal Services provide support for those in surrounding areas.

About Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy provides those in need with information, advice and advocacy in consumer protection, home preservation, health care access and public benefits, immigration, tax assistance and more. Our mission is to pursue justice for those in need. Our vision is to build a just community, where all people are treated fairly and have access to legal representation to meet their basic human needs of safety, economic security, and stability. Learn more: charlottelegaladvocacy.org