Hawaii spent $358,144,853 on SNAP in fiscal year 2010.
In December 2010, 156,355 people participated in the Hawaiian food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. In the past, participants used paper stamps to purchase food, but these have long since been replaced by electronic benefit transfer cards. SNAP is funded by the federal government, but each state shares in the administration costs. In Hawaii, SNAP is managed by the Department of Human Services.
Residency
You must be a resident of Hawaii to apply for the food assistance program in that state. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Providing a valid Social Security Number and proof of your citizenship or immigration status is part of the application process. You cannot receive Hawaii food benefits if you live in a public institution.
Income Thresholds
SNAP has two sets of maximum monthly income levels that cannot be exceeded. One level is gross monthly income, or the total of all income earned by members of your household. The other is net income, which is what remains after all allowable deductions have been made. Both thresholds are based on the current federal poverty level guidelines. As of 2011, a household cannot have a gross monthly income of more than 185 percent of the federal poverty level for a household of your size, nor a net monthly income of more than 100 percent. Households in which all members already receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or Supplemental Security Income benefits do not have to meet the income guidelines.
Application
You won't know for certain whether you're eligible for SNAP until you apply for benefits. In Hawaii, you can submit a paper application or go online to the Real Choices website (realchoices.org). If you wish to file a hard copy, submit it to your local Department of Human Services office. You will also need to provide documentation regarding your identity, United States citizenship, income, assets and household expenses.
Benefits
Once you're approved, your household will receive a monthly SNAP allotment. This can be used for any food designed for human consumption, such as dairy, meat, cereals, fruit and vegetables. You cannot use SNAP to buy pet food, tobacco, alcohol or food meant to be heated and consumed in a store. In 2010, the average monthly SNAP amount was around $215 for each eligible person. The maximum allowable benefit for a single person was $314.
Tags: monthly income, Department Human, Department Human Services, federal poverty, federal poverty level