SNAP Update - 11/13/25

The federal government shutdown has ended. PA DHS is working quickly to restart issuing full SNAP benefits. The process for this may take a few days for all remaining households to receive their payments.

Need help with food stamps in Allegheny County, PA?

If you live outside of Allegheny County, please visit this page for information on applying for SNAP elsewhere in PA, or visit this page for help with SNAP in another state.

Just Harvest’s Food Stamps Team can:

  • accurately and efficiently submit a SNAP/food stamp application for you – saving you time, hassle, and stress while ensuring your privacy

  • 5 minute eligibility screenings

  • assist you with annual re-certifications

  • provide case advocacy regarding unfairly denied, terminated, or incorrect benefits

  • help with LIHEAP, Medicaid and TANF/cash assistance applications.

Leave your name, contact info, and the best time to reach you Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at 412-431-8960 OR by filling out the “Need Some Help With SNAP?” form which goes directly to our call list.

  • Call the United Way hotline at 2-1-1 and ask to be connected with a food pantry in your area. If you need emergency food, let the operator know.

    You can also use this Food Finder tool from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

  • If your benefits were stolen on or after December 21, 2024 you should report the theft & request a new EBT card. However, DHS will not be able to able to replace your stolen benefits until Congress acts to allow states to replace them.

    Visit our page Dealing with SNAP benefit theft in PA.

  • ESAP (Elderly Simplified Application Process) makes it easier for some seniors to apply for and continue to receive SNAP benefits. The application has fewer questions. Very few documents are needed (often just proof of ID), the interview can be waived, and seniors will only need to re-certify once every three years instead of every six months.

    The criteria to qualify for ESAP are:

    • Everyone in the household is aged 60+ or receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

    • No one is working and income is a fixed amount (I.e Their only income is Social Security)

    • Rent/Mortgage costs are “reasonable”, subsidized or fixed.

    Are you age 60 or older, live in Allegheny County, and want help applying for food stamps or to see if you're eligible? We can help you over the phone, at no charge. Call us at (412) 431-8960 (option 3).

You are eligible if:

You are a resident of the county where you are applying for benefits.

Can I qualify even if…

I own my own home? Yes!

I own a car? Yes!

I work? Yes!

I have savings?

YES! PA has opted out of the food stamp asset test, which prevented people with more than one car or a certain level of savings from applying for food stamps.

I live with others?

YES! A household is defined as anyone you buy or share food with. If you live with someone that you do not buy or share food with, they will need to sign a “purchase and prepare” statement.

I am a student?

YES! Students can be eligible if they meet other requirements.

I am not a US citizen?

YES! Some lawfully present immigrants can qualify for SNAP, including Legal Permanent Residents and Cuban/Haitian entrants. If you are not eligible for yourself, but you have children who are US citizens or permanent residents, you can apply for your children. Everyone you are applying for must have a Social Security Number. Learn more about SNAP and immigration.

I receive unemployment, SSI, WIC, Medicaid, or other benefits?

YES! You can still receive SNAP benefits even if you receive other benefits.

Income Limits:

To qualify for SNAP benefits, your household has to meet certain income guidelines. First, your income has to be below the gross income limits listed in the chart below. Gross income refers to all of your earned income (like wages and salaries) and all unearned income (like public benefits, child support, and social security) before any taxes or deductions are taken out. If your household has just one or two people in it, and your gross income is below the stated limits, then you should qualify for at least the minimum benefit of $24 per month.

Households of 3 or more must have an income that is below the gross income limits and have high enough countable expenses (“deductions”) that they qualify for a benefit when the benefit amount is calculated. The deductions used in calculating your benefits are based on your family size as well as these expenses:

  • Shelter Costs: rent, mortgage, property taxes, and/or homeowners insurance

  • Utility Allowance: a standard amount that is subtracted based on which utilities you pay

  • Child Support and Child Care so that you can work

  • Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses for anyone who is age 60 or older, or has a disability

To calculate whether your gross income and your deductions might qualify you for SNAP, you can use our SNAP eligibility screening tool.

SNAP Income Guidelines in Pennsylvania (Oct. 1, 2025 – Sep. 30, 2026)

Table showing SNAP monthly benefit ranges based on household size and monthly income limit, from 1 to 4 household members, plus additional benefit for each extra person in the household.

 SNAP Benefits FAQs

  • The best way to find out if you are eligible for SNAP is to apply, contact us for a free 5-minute eligibility screening, or use our SNAP screening tool. You can also read on to learn more about eligibility and whether you meet the guidelines.

  • The amount you get in SNAP benefits is based on your income and eligible deductions. The minimum benefit amount for households with just one or two people is $24 each month. The maximum benefit amounts are provided in the table above. You can use our SNAP eligibility screening tool to see how much you might qualify for.

    Receiving SNAP can also help you qualify for other benefits and discounts.

    1. COMPLETE AN APPLICATION FORM

      If you want free help determining whether you are eligible for food stamps and/or applying for benefits, contact one of our food stamp specialists at 412-431-8960 (option 3).

      Or, apply online through the COMPASS website or contact the PA Dept. of Human Services.

    2. COMPLETE AN INTERVIEW

      A Caseworker will attempt to call you within 2 days of submitting your application. If they do not reach you, they will mail you a date and time for a phone interview.

    3. SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION

      Generally, SNAP applicants need to provide proof of who they are, where they reside, who they live with, the last 30 days of income (or more if your income fluctuates a lot), and expenses. DHS mails each applicant a specific list of what items they need to verify based on the information on your application. Documents can be uploaded using COMPASS, the MyCOMPASS PA mobile app,  mailed, faxed or dropped off at County Assistance Offices. To have your application finished sooner, you should provide documents as soon as possible.

  • Tell your County Assistance Office right away! You must ask within 10 days of when the disaster occurred. The law allows you to get replacement SNAP benefits for the amount of food that you lost — up to one month’s benefits.

  • If you are in an emergency situation, make sure you tell the Dept. of Human Services County Assistance Office. You may qualify for “expedited benefits,” which means that you can receive your SNAP/food stamp benefits within five days.

    You can qualify to get SNAP sooner if your household:

    • has less than $150 in monthly income and less than $100 available in cash, or

    • has housing and utility costs for the month that are more than your income, or

    • includes only migrant or seasonal farmworkers with less than $100 cash.

    • Note: DHS cannot issue these benefits without completing an interview first.

  • Most households need to report any household changes semi-annually (every six months) and be recertified for SNAP/food stamp benefits every 12 months. PA Dept. of Human Services will automatically mail you a Semi-Annual Reporting Form (SAR) and an annual renewal packet.

    Learn more about PA rules for maintaining your SNAP benefits

What is “SNAP?”

The U.S. government’s main food assistance program is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or “food stamps.”

This federal program is administered in Pennsylvania by the PA Department of Human Services. SNAP is a public benefit that you can use to help you and your family pay for food. Most low-income households are eligible for SNAP benefits, which are automatically placed on their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card each month.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the country's largest food safety net program, providing food stamps to help more than 10 percent of Americans (47 million nationwide and over 160,000 in Allegheny County) keep food on the table during hard times.

Since 2007, Just Harvest has partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to perform public outreach and food stamp application assistance.

PA Dept. of Human Services has contracted Just Harvest to provide free SNAP eligibility screenings and streamlined application assistance to residents of Allegheny County. Our decades of expertise enable us to help you with all of your SNAP/food stamps questions, problems, and concerns.

Navigating the food stamps benefits system can feel discouraging or overwhelming at a time when your life is already hard enough. But you can count on our knowledgeable and compassionate team to help you at any point in the process.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English.  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to:

  1. mail: 
    Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
    1320 Braddock Place, Room 334
    Alexandria, VA 22314; or

  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

  3. email:
    FNSCIVILRIGHTSCOMPLAINTS@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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