Citizenship and Identity

• You are required to be a citizen of the United States or a legal immigrant to receive food stamps. When applying for food stamps with your local food stamp office, you are required to show proof of citizenship and identity. This may done by providing your social security card or proof you have applied for one and your valid state-issued driver's license, state-issued identification card, valid U.S. passport or valid military identification. Expired forms of identification cannot be used to establish identity.
  
  

Employment Requirements

• If you are between the ages of 18 and 60 you are required to maintain gainful employment or participate in a work placement or job training program to continue receiving food stamps. Otherwise, you may only receive food stamps for three months in any 36-month period. Exceptions to this rule apply if you are caring for a dependent child under 6-years-old or for an incapacitated member of your household who requires round-the-clock care. You may also be exempt from the work requirements if you are permanently disabled and receiving a form of disability benefits or are over the age of 60.
  
  

Income Requirements

• Your income level is required to be under a certain amount to maintain your eligibility for food stamps. The income level is determined by the number of people in your household after all eligible deductions, including housing and child care costs. For example, as of February 2011, if your household contains four people, your monthly gross income may not exceed $2,389. Your net income for a household of this size may not exceed $1,838. You are required to report all changes in your income level or household size to your local food stamp office.
  
  

Resources and Assets

• Your cash resources available to you, including funds available in all bank accounts, may not exceed $2,000 to be eligible for food stamps. The resource limit increases to $3,000 if you have at least one member in your household who is over the age of 60. Certain resources are not counted in these amounts, including retirement benefits and money received from disability payments. You may also have one automobile per adult member of your household with a fair market value of up to $4,650.