In times of economic downturn, jobs are often cut to help companies save money. Employees who are laid off may turn to assistance from the government to help them remain stable until they find employment. Food stamp programs have income limitations and a person who is unemployed may have to prove financial hardship and unemployment before being issued food stamps.
Termination Letter
A person who is laid off is usually given a termination letter. The employee can use this letter as support for his or her request for food stamp benefits. Employees who resign or quit positions will have a more difficult time proving the need for public assistance if their monthly income is still shown to exceed the maximum amount to receive food stamps.
Income
Income restrictions exist in the food stamp program. You must be able to prove that your income meets the requirements of the program before your application will be accepted. This may mean waiting several pay periods before submitting your request or showing proof from your most current financial statements such as a bank account, retirement account or legal settlements. If you wait several pay periods, your net and gross monthly income will likely drop to meet the requirements of the program.
Competition
If you are a first time applicant to the program, you may have to wait months for a response to your case. Applying in person is the fastest method of acceptance into the program, but you could spend hours in a waiting room before seeing a case worker. Designate a day to devote to applying in person at your local food stamp office.
Acceptance
Once your food stamp application is accepted, you will receive written notification outlining the amount of your assistance and the certification period. The certification period is the amount of time you will receive food stamps. If you find a new job within this time frame, you must report it to the food stamp program you could be disqualified from future participation in the program.