Gateway.ga.gov Food Stamp Application
The Georgia food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is given to people in need of federal assistance to purchase food. To qualify for food stamps, you must have an eligible income level based on a number of factors that influence your eligibility.
If you would like to apply for the food stamp program, visit the Georgia Gateway website and complete the eligibility pre-screening tool prior to completing an application.
Once you have determined that you are eligible to receive federal benefits, you can apply for the Georgia food stamps program. We have provided the information below on how to apply for SNAP benefits in Georgia.
Do You Qualify for Georgia Food Stamps?
There are several questions you have to answer to determine whether you have met the criteria for SNAP benefits in the state of Georgia. Here are some of the questions you should have an answer to before you apply, especially when you meet for the in-person interview that will determine whether you are approved for the program or not.
To determine if you’re eligible, the state will ask you the following questions:
Georgia Food Stamps Eligibility Questions?
- Are you a United States citizen?
- Are you a resident of Georgia? Must be able to provide proof (utility bill, rental agreement, etc.)
- How many children are in your household?
- What are your assets? This includes any money that is saved in bank accounts and/or stocks. The more assets you have, the less likely you are to qualify. They will also require documentation to verify you have what you claim you have so be prepared with your documents.
- What is your income? This includes money you earn from jobs but also other forms of income like babysitting, unemployment, or child support. This the most important factor they are going to look at to determine how much your monthly food stamps benefits is going to be. You should, therefore, gather all your documents and be ready to verify your income. If you have incomplete or missing information, that will delay your case further.
Food Stamp Application Process
Currently, Georgia residents are not able to complete a food stamps application online by using the Georgia Gateway online benefits portal. Since Georgia migrated from COMPASS to Gateway, the ability to apply for food stamps online is no longer available. We assume that sometime in the near future an online application option for SNAP benefits will be offered, but currently, applying for food stamps online is not an option. The two available options for submitting your Georgia food stamps application is in person or by mail. We will walk you through both options for applying below.
Apply in Person
The first option for applying for Georgia food stamps is to apply in-person at your local Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) office. To find the local DFCS in your county, use our locator tool here. If you are choosing to apply in-person for Georgia food stamps, you can either download your application online or request a paper application to be sent to you via mail.
If you choose to download your application online, you can find the Georgia Food Stamp Application here. Once you download the application, print it out and complete it as instructed. Once finished, drop off the completed application along with any requested documentation at your local DFCS office for processing.
If you choose to have a paper application sent to you via mail, please contact the Customer Contact Center at 877-423-4746 or your local DFCS office and ask to have an application mailed to you. Once you receive the application, complete it as instructed and drop off it off along with any other requested documentation at your local DFCS office for processing.
Apply by Mail
The second option for applying for Georgia food stamps is to apply by mail. To submit an application by mail, either download the Georgia Food Stamps Application online or request a paper application be sent to you via mail. Once you’ve retrieved the application, complete it as instructed and mail it to your local DFCS office. To find the mailing address for the local DFCS office in your county, use our office locator tool here.
For assistance applying for the food stamp program or for any additional questions, call the Georgia SNAP Help Hotline at 1-877-423-4746. If you have a hearing impairment, call 1-800-255-0135. All Georgia DFCS Services are free to use. If you a college student and would like to apply for food stamps, find out food stamps for college students in our post.
We hope this post was helpful to you! If you need help applying for Georgia Food Stamps, please leave your questions in the comments section below! Also, be sure to check out our quick links below for all things related to applying for food stamps in Georgia.
Georgia SNAP Eligibility Guidelines
Georgia Gateway Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool