Food stamp and family investment programs help families in financial need.
Food stamps, renamed SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in October 2008, is a program that provides families in need with the resources to buy food. Benefit amounts are loaded onto a card that is much like a debit card. FIP (Family Investment Program) goes a step further by providing families with cash to pay for things such as paper products, medicine and bills.
SNAP Benefit Limits
How much a family receives each month in SNAP benefits depends on its circumstances. The maximum amount awarded to a family with one household member is $200, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The minimum amount was raised in 2008 to $14. Maximum benefit amounts steadily increase by roughly $150 with each additional person living in the home. The U.S. Department of Agriculture points out that benefit amounts are slightly higher in both Alaska and Hawaii.
SNAP Eligibility
Many guidelines apply to qualifying for SNAP, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including guidelines for income limits, resource limits and employment. Gross household monthly income must be at least 130 percent of the poverty level; for instance, a family of one person should earn no more than $1,174 before deductions to qualify. Households with no elderly or disabled persons can have up to $2,000 in countable resources -- like cash or bank account balances -- and those with elderly or disabled persons can have as much as $3,000. With some exceptions, all able-bodied family members between 16 and 60 must register for work.
Family Investment Program
FIP benefits are awarded to families that meet income eligibility requirements, according to the Minnesota Family Investment Program. Award amounts increase with family size. According to the Minnesota website, a family of three can receive a maximum of $1,005 in cash assistance, while a family of four can receive a maximum of $1,217 a month.
FIP Eligibility
Families are eligible for FIP if they are residents of the state they apply in, are U.S. citizens or qualifying non-citizens, and have a minor or pregnant woman in the home. Income limits are judged by the federal poverty guidelines. New applicants can have up to $2,000 in countable assets prior to applying, while ongoing participants can have up to $5,000. A cap of 60 months is placed on benefit recipiency, says the Minnesota Family Investment Program. No family can receive FIP longer than this.
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