Just got food stamps today, but I don't know how to use them?

[Lyndsey]

I just got food stamps for the first time ever today and the woman who gave it to me didn't explain it to me at all. How do they work? I know I use the card like a debit card, but I don't know what I can buy with it. Is any kind of food accepted? Can I buy juice or soda with it? I just don't understand how it works. Also, is the money automatically put on it once a month or do I have to call them? Any information on this would be very helpful. I've already looked at the Oregon food stamps website and it's not helpful at all.

[juicebox695]

You have to call the number on the card to activate it and set up a PIN.
You can buy juice and soda and about any food in the grocery store, but you can't buy food that's already been cooked.
Money is automatically put on the card each month. The date depends on the first letter of your last name.

[JustCallMeG087]

You should have gotten some kind of pamphlet explaining which items are accepted with your food stamps. If not, then there is a general rule of thumb. You can purchase ANY food items except for "convenience foods". Those are things like the cooked french fries and chicken wings at the deli. The hot foods that are already cooked. You know what I mean?

The money is credited to the card once a month.

**Here, I found this list of things you can purchase and things you cannot at this website: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/faqs.htm#10

Households CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:
Foods for the household to eat, such as:
-- breads and cereals
-- fruits and vegetables
-- meats, fish and poultry; and
-- dairy products
Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:
Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
Any nonfood items, such as:
-- pet foods;
-- soaps, paper products; and
-- household supplies.
Vitamins and medicines.
Food that will be eaten in the store.
Hot foods

[MiahsMumi]

Ok. Ive had this before. Its really easy. U can buy anything with it(edible) except for energy drinks...Candy, soda, chips, baby formula, meats, milk. Literally anything that can be eaten. The cash part will be put on once a month. You do not have to call them. They put the food stamps on it on the day of the last number of your case #. So say your case number is 987755. Then you will get your foodstamps on the 5th.. The Cash will be automatically on there on the 1st of every month at midnight. Good luck hun....

[liquidsilicon]

DIFFERENT STATES MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT RULES ABOUT CANDY OR SODA, BUT ONE TIME I BOUGHT A BASIL PLANT WITH ONE OF THOSE CARDS AND IT WORKED, YOU COULD ALWAYS GO IN THE STORE AND ASK THE CASHIER MANAGER, I THINK EVEN THE COURTESY COUNTER WOULD KNOW TOO

[MyOhMy]

You can buy anything with them. There are a few exceptions (like already prepared meals from say a deli), but it also depends on your state for the method they use in calculating when you get food stamps. In MI it depends on the last number in your case as to when you will get it. Also do NOT call to *remind* your worker, they are very very very overloaded and the system automatically does the transaction (at least in MI it does).

[KrisM190]

i am in a but i assume it works the same every where yes juice and soda no prepared foods it should be put on once a month but depending on your situation you may receive a form in the mail fill it out send in and you should be good hope this helps

[GeorgeBush]

You are poor and don't deserve food, I broke my back from a faimly who hadn't done NOTHING, to becoming famous. After all nobody liked my Pa, so we were poor again, and then I went to Yale, you are poor and deserve to starve, after all you do suck. Go suck your popsicles.

[Sweetpea839]

YOu can buy any food or drink product that you can take home. You cannot, for instance, buy those rottesrrarie chickens or fried chicked that is pre cooked, but you can buy whole un cooked chicken, fresh produce, chips, cereal, and yes, soda and juice.

It does work just like a debit card. You have a pin, and you enter the pin and press food and there you go.