Administration

• The SNAP program is operated by the division of economic assistance of the Mississippi state government's department of human services. For administrative purposes, applications for SNAP can be jointly made with applications for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a program making direct cash payments to some low income families.
  
  

Eligibility

• Households can only receive SNAP payments if they meet income, resource and residency requirements. There are two income requirements. First, the gross household income must be no more than 130 percent of the designated poverty level. For 2010 to 2011, this means gross income cannot exceed $1,174 for a single-person household, which rises by $405 for each additional person.
  
  Second, the net monthly income, which is the gross income minus certain deductions based on factors such as the age and health of family members, must be no more than the designated poverty level. For 2010 to 2011, this means that the income must not exceed $903 for a single person household, which rises by $312 for each additional person. A household with an elderly or disabled person may only have to pass the net income requirement. Households must only have up to $2,000 in resources ($3,000 if one person is aged at least 60.) "Resources" for this purposes includes cash and savings. It does not include vehicles used for work, used for transporting disabled family members, or worth less than $4,650.
  
  Applicants must be U.S. citizens, legal immigrants who have been U.S. residents for five years or legal immigrants aged under 18 or receiving disability benefits.
  
  

Application process

• One adult member of the household must apply, either online at the Mississippi Department of Human Services website, or in person at a local SNAP office. Location details are available by calling 1-800-948-3050. Once an application is received, the applicant will be invited to an interview to go over the details on their forms. The applicant should bring all relevant documents showing proof of identity, Social Security number, proof of any income, bank statements and proof of rent and utility costs. The applicant will then receive notice in the post saying whether the application has been successful. If so, assistance begins within 30 days.
  
  

Benefits

• SNAP payments are made in the form of an electronic card to be used in accredited retailers to buy food. The amount is made up of a maximum payment based on the number of people in the household, minus 30 percent of the household's income. As of January 2011, the maximum payment is $200 for a single-person household, and roughly $150 for each additional member. (The exact figure varies and is not consistent.)