Food Stamp

Food Stamp

rules changed

Some families forced to share the same house or apartment for economic reasons may now be eligibly for separate food stamp allowances due to new food stamp eligibility rules, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services. >2

Under the new rules, if the fohfe lies keep their income and resource separate from others in the houfe and purchase and prepare their foft separately, they may apply as sep£ rate households even if they shite the same home or apartment due ig economic necessity. This new ruling affects:

• adult children who live with their parents and have minor chi£ dren of their own, or V

• adult siblings who live togethij$ where at least one sibling has minds' children. v

Under the old guidelines, part ents and their adult children and aft adult siblings were required to apply for food stamps as one household,' unless one of the parents or sibling^ was 60 years of age or older or dijjr abled. They were required to apply; as one household even if they kept their incomes and resources and food purchases and preparation separate,"

Persons whose food stamp appfti cations have been denied or benefits have been cut because of the incortfh of others in the home, should contort the county office for more inforrrflji tion. If their income and resources are not shared with others in tte home, they may now be eligible w receive food stamps.

For general information on tbe food stamp program, the Virgin^ Department of Social Services ma$»; tains a food stamp hotline that opiates on normal business days fronWJ to 11 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. The to|h free number to call is 1-800-5536$ 3431. [ 1'

The Rappahannock County DetJ partment of Social Services can all* answer inquiries. The office is Mr cated on Gay St. in Washington, call 675-3326.

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