While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Food Stamps, helps eligible low-income individuals and families buy the food they need to stay healthy in the form of monthly benefits.
SNAP uses Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to distribute the benefits.
The Texas SNAP food assistance program is administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Learn more about SNAP on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission website here.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP benefits can be used to purchase approved food items. These include:
See a more comprehensive list of what you can buy with SNAP benefits here and a list of approved snacks and meal supplements here.
There are also food items that cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits, including alcoholic beverages and hot prepared food. See a comprehensive list of what you cannot buy with SNAP benefits here.
SNAP provides monthly benefits, known as an allotment, to eligible households. The allotment amount you can receive is based on 1) the number of people in your household and 2) your household income.
To calculate your allotment amount, multiply your household’s net income by 0.3 and then subtract that number from the federal maximum monthly benefit amount in the table below.
| Household Number | Federal Maximum Allotment Per Month |
| 1 | $281 |
| 2 | $516 |
| 3 | $740 |
| 4 | $939 |
| 5 | $1,116 |
| 6 | $1,339 |
| 7 | $1,480 |
| 8 | $1,691 |
| Each additional household member | +211 |
You have one year (365 days) to use your allotment or the benefits on your EBT card will be canceled.
To learn more about your benefit amount in Texas, click here.
To qualify for SNAP in Texas, you must meet the following requirements:
Learn more about Texas’s income limits and other eligibility criteria here.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Texas Food Stamps program, helps families buy the food they need to stay healthy. If you are in need of food assistance and wish to apply to SNAP, complete the following three steps:
Learn about the income limits and personal eligibility requirements to receive SNAP benefits here.
Find a list of what you need to apply on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) application here (Page 3) and to see what information is required.
To apply for SNAP online, create an account on Texas’s benefits portal here and fill out the SNAP application.
To apply for SNAP in person, click here to find the nearest Texas HHSC office location.
To apply for SNAP benefits by fax, print out and complete the Texas Benefit form found here and send it to 1 (877) 447-2839.
To apply for SNAP by mail, fill out the benefit application form here and send it with copies of your necessary documents to the following address:
Health and Human Services Commission
P.O. Box 149024
Austin, TX 78714-9968
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, you can call the DHHS customer service line at 1 (877) 541-7905 or toll-free at 211. Services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
You can also visit a local Community Partner if you would like in-person assistance filling out your application or if you do not have access to a computer or printer and wish to apply for benefits. You can find a local Community Partner Program (CPP) here.
Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:
If you applied for SNAP online, in person, by mail or by fax, you will receive a notice in the mail from the Health and Human Services Commission with your determination and benefit amount. If you are approved, you will then receive your EBT card, or Lone Star Card as it is known in Texas, in the mail within 14 days of your determination letter.
Once you receive your EBT card, you can use it to purchase items that are approved by SNAP at groceries and retail stores that accept EBT transactions. Learn about what you can purchase with SNAP here.
SNAP benefits are replenished each month that you are a member of the program. To check the balance of your EBT card, call the number on the back of your card or 1 (800) 777-7328. If you have a speech or hearing impairment call 711 for relay services.
If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), you can appeal your decision in person or by mail within 90 days of receiving your determination letter.
You can file an appeal for a Fair Hearing in person, by phone or by mail.
To file an appeal in person, you will need to go to a local HHSC office and speak with a representative about your appeal. You can find the office closest to you here. Bring your determination letter.
To file an appeal by phone, call the Texas Appeals Division at 1 (512) 231-5701 or 211 for application assistance. Be sure to have your determination letter on hand for reference.
To request a Fair Hearing by mail, download the Fair Hearing Request form found here and mail it to the following address:
Health and Human Services Commission
P.O. Box 149024,
Austin, TX 78714-9968
If you have any questions about the appeals process, visit the Appeal Division’s website here and their FAQ page here.
If you need further assistance, contact 211.
You can check the balance of your EBT card by calling the number on the back of your card or 1 (800) 777-7328. If you have a speech or hearing impairment call 711 for relay services.
Learn more information about EBT cards and how to use your benefits on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission EBT card page here.
If you have lost your EBT card and require a replacement, call Texas’s EBT customer service number at 1 (800) 777-7328.
You cannot obtain a replacement EBT card in person at an HHSC office in Texas.
For more answers to common questions related to EBT cards, click here.
For help with obtaining SNAP benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) directly at 1 (512) 424-6500.
You can also contact their TTY number at 1 (512) 424-6597 if you have a speech impediment or are hard of hearing.
If you wish to contact the HHSC’s customer service line, call 1 (877) 541-7905 or toll-free at 211.
To send the Texas Health and Human Services Commission information physically, you can fax your documents or questions to 1 (877) 447-2839 or mail them using the following address:
Health and Human Services Commission
P.O. Box 149024,
Austin, TX 78714-9968
You can also visit or call a local HHSC Office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.
Offices and services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Food Stamps program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Food Stamps Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, requirements for program eligibility, and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
Last Updated: September 26, 2022
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Texas Food Stamps program, helps families buy the food they need to stay healthy. If you are in need of food assistance and wish to apply to SNAP, complete the following three steps:
Learn about the income limits and personal eligibility requirements to receive SNAP benefits here.
Find a list of what you need to apply on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) application here (Page 3) and to see what information is required.
To apply for SNAP online, create an account on Texas’s benefits portal here and fill out the SNAP application.
To apply for SNAP in person, click here to find the nearest Texas HHSC office location.
To apply for SNAP benefits by fax, print out and complete the Texas Benefit form found here and send it to 1 (877) 447-2839.
To apply for SNAP by mail, fill out the benefit application form here and send it with copies of your necessary documents to the following address:
Health and Human Services Commission
P.O. Box 149024
Austin, TX 78714-9968
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, you can call the DHHS customer service line at 1 (877) 541-7905 or toll-free at 211. Services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
You can also visit a local Community Partner if you would like in-person assistance filling out your application or if you do not have access to a computer or printer and wish to apply for benefits. You can find a local Community Partner Program (CPP) here.
Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:
If you applied for SNAP online, in person, by mail or by fax, you will receive a notice in the mail from the Health and Human Services Commission with your determination and benefit amount. If you are approved, you will then receive your EBT card, or Lone Star Card as it is known in Texas, in the mail within 14 days of your determination letter.
Once you receive your EBT card, you can use it to purchase items that are approved by SNAP at groceries and retail stores that accept EBT transactions. Learn about what you can purchase with SNAP here.
SNAP benefits are replenished each month that you are a member of the program. To check the balance of your EBT card, call the number on the back of your card or 1 (800) 777-7328. If you have a speech or hearing impairment call 711 for relay services.
If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), you can appeal your decision in person or by mail within 90 days of receiving your determination letter.
You can file an appeal for a Fair Hearing in person, by phone or by mail.
To file an appeal in person, you will need to go to a local HHSC office and speak with a representative about your appeal. You can find the office closest to you here. Bring your determination letter.
To file an appeal by phone, call the Texas Appeals Division at 1 (512) 231-5701 or 211 for application assistance. Be sure to have your determination letter on hand for reference.
To request a Fair Hearing by mail, download the Fair Hearing Request form found here and mail it to the following address:
Health and Human Services Commission
P.O. Box 149024,
Austin, TX 78714-9968
If you have any questions about the appeals process, visit the Appeal Division’s website here and their FAQ page here.
If you need further assistance, contact 211.
You can check the balance of your EBT card by calling the number on the back of your card or 1 (800) 777-7328. If you have a speech or hearing impairment call 711 for relay services.
Learn more information about EBT cards and how to use your benefits on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission EBT card page here.
If you have lost your EBT card and require a replacement, call Texas’s EBT customer service number at 1 (800) 777-7328.
You cannot obtain a replacement EBT card in person at an HHSC office in Texas.
For more answers to common questions related to EBT cards, click here.
For help with obtaining SNAP benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) directly at 1 (512) 424-6500.
You can also contact their TTY number at 1 (512) 424-6597 if you have a speech impediment or are hard of hearing.
If you wish to contact the HHSC’s customer service line, call 1 (877) 541-7905 or toll-free at 211.
To send the Texas Health and Human Services Commission information physically, you can fax your documents or questions to 1 (877) 447-2839 or mail them using the following address:
Health and Human Services Commission
P.O. Box 149024,
Austin, TX 78714-9968
You can also visit or call a local HHSC Office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.
Offices and services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Food Stamps program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Food Stamps Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, requirements for program eligibility, and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
Last Updated: September 26, 2022