Medicaid & Food Assistance
- Medicaid is a federally backed health care insurance program that is managed by the state and sometimes renamed (in Oklahoma the program is known as SoonerCare and in California it is called Medi-cal). Many states offer different plans for people with disabilities versus those who are elderly or pregnant women. Each version of the program will have its own income and other requirements. Adult students, pregnant women, disabled individuals, impoverished people and elderly people may qualify for the program if they meet the income guidelines.
- Food assistance is provided by each state to qualified applicants to purchase unprepared food stuffs. Food stamps, actually called SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program), are provided to applicants who are considered impoverished under the federal poverty guidelines. For example, a family of three living in New York or in Alameda County, California, can gross no more than $1,984 per month. But households with an elderly or disabled person may gross more per month and still qualify.
- Applicants should complete an application for each type of assistance at their local department of social, human or health services office (the actual name of the department varies per state). Both applications require the full names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and monthly incomes (including passive income such as disability and retirement payments) of all household members. Expenses, such as rent, child card and child support, will also be considered when calculating your total household income.