Note: please note that this page should (a) link back to the issue overview on this topic, (b) be focused either the local, state, national, or global level, and (c) be neutrally presented, based on facts, and include footnotes for each of the items.  See the Research Guide and Information Sources to assist you. 

• Link here to the overview page:  Food Stamp Utilization
• Food Deserts - New Jersey

Scope of the Problem  factual statements on the extent of the problem in the past, current, or future

• "In Middlesex County we serve approximately 11,000 households in the Non-Public Assistance Food Stamp Department per month for a total of approximately 18,000 individuals, approximately 8,000 of whom are children under the age of 18"^[1]
• "The average monthly payout in NPA Food Stamp Benefits in Middlesex County is $1,642,000.00." ^[2] 
• Potential areas for research and development:
  • Addressing the vulnerabilities of immigrants in Middlesex County:

Past Policy  key legislation and milestones including significant policy and funding shifts, major studies, etc.

Current Policy  summary of current policies in the form of legislation, programs, and funding

• The current food stamp program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is federally funded, governed by federal legislation, and administered by the Department of Agriculture.  Each state, though, writes its own regulations in compliance with the federal laws.  New Jersey's food stamp program is administered by county Health and Human Services offices.  All regulations are found in New Jersey Administrative Code 10:87, "Food Stamp Manual," issued by the State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development.

• Eligibility: Eligibility is determined by using both financial and non-financial criteria.^[3]

  • Non-Financial Eligibility:

    • An undocumented immigrant that meets the financial criteria will not be eligible based on citizenship status.  For a documented immigrant without citizenship, that immigrant will need (among other restrictions) to be granted permanent residence and have been in the country for five years.

    • Full-time college students are not eligible to receive food stamps unless they are either employed 20 hours or more per week or are disabled.

    • Food stamp applicants must also register for work with the Employment Service of the New Jersey Department of Labor, unless the applicant is over the age of 60 or below the age of 16 (specified in the Food Stamp Employment and Training Regulations)

    • An ineligible individual can disqualify an entire household because, in most cases, any groups of individuals living together are considered as a single Food Stamp Household. 

  • Financial Eligibility:

    • Countable Resources: cash, real estate/property that is not the household's primary domicile, stocks, bonds, other investments.  (retirement and other accounts that are not currently accessible by the household may be exempt).

    • Earned Income: Income from employment, income from self-employment

    • Unearned Income: social security benefits, unemployment/disability benefits, child support/spousal support, cash contributions from non-household members, deemed income from sponsors of aliens

    • Income of all household members is included in calculations of household eligibility and benefit amount (except earned income from full-time high school students under the age of 18).

    • Households may not have more that $2,000.00 in countable resources in any given month to be eligible to receive benefits. (Households with elederly or disabled individuals may have up to $3,000.00 in countable resources.)

    • Resources of individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are exempt.

  • Benefit Calculations:

    • All allowable deductions are subtracted from the household's gross monthly income.  The remaining income is considered the countable net monthly "Food Stamp Income." The household's benefits are calculated using this income and household size.

      • Possible Deductions:

        • Every household receives a standard deduction from their total household income, which is determined by household size

        • Earned income receives a 20% "earned income deduction" from the gross monthly income (to incentivize employment)

        • Households with utility expenses receive a "Standard Utility Deduction" (currently $411.00)  The deduction is determined each year by the state, and is based on predicted utility rates. 

        • Households can receive a "Shelter Allowance" of up to $459.00 per month.  Elderly and disabled participants can get actual costs; that is, they have no cap on the Shelter Allowance.

        • Elderly or disabled members get medical expense deductions if over $35.00 (including Medicare premiums, medical bills not covered by insurance, and Medicare prescription costs not covered by insurance or Medicare).

  • Verification Documentation

    • All income (earned and unearned) must be declared and verified by the household.  The County Welfare Agency will assist the household in obtaining this verification if the household requests assistance.  Certain income such as Social Security and Unemployment Benefits are verified by the agency worker.

    • Verification of responsibility for the payment of utilities is required if the household is to receive a utility deduction from their income and to establish the level of Home Energy Assistance the household will receive.

    • Proof of Citizenship or Alien Status is required

    • Proof of Identity

    • Countable resources

    • Contradicting statements on the application are investigated and verified

    • Potentially Required Documents:

      • Address Verification

      • Social Security Card

      • Other health insurance cards

      • Pregnancy due date

      • Verification of citizenship, if not born in the U.S.

      • Alien registration card

      • Marriage certificate

      • Death certificate of spouse

      • Life insurance policies (including policy number, owner, face value, and case surrender value)

      • Verification of income from employment or self-employment (last two months)

      • Child support/alimony

      • Verification of savings accounts, checking accounts, CD's, IRA's, stocks, bonds, trust funds, safety deposit boxes, or any other assets where your name appears as sole or joint owner (note: certain applications may require resource verification for the 36 month period prior to the date of application)

      • Verification of social security, VA, pension or any other benefits (for direct deposit of checks, a bank statement will suffice)

      • Deed to any real estate you own or co-own or closing statement for real estate you previously owned

      • Deed to a burial plot

      • re-paid funeral contract or burial contract

      • auto registration

      • shelter expenses: rent/mortgage receipt, PSE&G and/or oil bills 

Key Organizations/Individuals   contacts for public and private organizations and key individuals

• Government
  •  
• Non-Profit - Service Providing
  •  
• Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network
  •  
• Foundation
  •  
• Other
  •  

Bibliography   web sites, reports, articles, and other reference material 

Footnotes

1. Source: Gregory J. Lavine, Middlesex Administrative Food Stamp Supervisor. Statistics calculated for October, 2009. ▲
2. Source: Gregory J. Lavine, Middlesex Administrative Food Stamp Supervisor. Statistics calculated for October, 2009. ▲
3. The following information is quoted and paraphrased from "Middlex County Board of Social Services Overview" by Gregory Lavine, Middlesex Administrative Food Stamp Supervisor ▲