To apply for food stamps, you must submit a food stamp application to your local Department of Social Services (DSS). Follow the Instructions for printing a food stamp application below and deliver, mail or fax the form to your local DSS office. Even if you mail or fax the application to the DSS office, you may still need to go to the office for an interview. You will be notified if this is necessary.

Print a Food Stamp Application
To download the application form click on one of the following (forms are in Adobe Acrobat):

English Version                 Spanish Version

Note: If youare unable to print an application from the web site, you may pick up anapplication from your local DSS county office.

To apply for Food Stamps with this application, complete the following steps:

1. Print the application.
2. Complete the application.  **Please note that your application musthave your name, address and signature to be processed**  If you are unable to complete the entire application form, you will be assisted during your interview at the county office.
3. Bring, mail or fax your completed application to your County DSS office. (To locate the contact information for your county office click here DSS county offices.)
4. Once your application is received in the county office, a DSS worker may contact you to set up an interview to complete the application process. You will be notified if this is necessary. To save time and help your application go faster, it is best to bring all of the necessary paperwork with you.

Click here for a list of documents you will need to bring.

You will be assigned a caseworker when you go to DSS. This is the person you will work with until your application is complete. Your caseworker is the person you should call when you have questions about your case. If you need to provide new documents to DSS in the future, you should give them to this same caseworker. For example, if you change jobs, you will need to send your caseworker new copies of your pay stubs.

If you qualify for regular food stamps, DSS must give you food stamps no later than 30 days after they receive your application.

If you need food stamps right away and qualify for "expedited" food stamps, DSS must give you food stamps no later than 7 days after they receive your application.