THIS SPRING/SUMMER SEASON –
CHECK YOUR FOOD STAMP AMOUNT:

ARE YOU GETTING AS MUCH AS YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR?

(Article published in HWW May 2008)

by Judith Rubenstein, Connecting to Advantages (connectingtoadvantages@gmail.com)

It’s often the case that people receiving Food Stamps are getting the lowest amount, computed automatically. That’s approximately $10/month.

Often left out of the computation is either

• your Con Edison bill

• or if you live in public housing and don’t get a Con Ed bill, the extra money you pay for your air conditioning or washer/dryer

These extra costs make you have a higher “Standard Utility Allowance” which, in turn, increases the amount of Food Stamps you’re entitled to receive.

To straighten this out, you have to mail in copies of the following:

• your rent bill

• your Con Edison bill or – if you’re in public housing – the notation that says you have to pay extra for air conditioning or washer/dryer

• your SS or SSI or PA award letter, or at least a copy of your ID

• a letter saying you’d like your Food Stamps re-computed

If you’re on SSI, mail this to: Att. Mr. Luke, F 15 Food Stamp Office, 253 Schermerhorn Street, 1st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

If you’re not on SSI, take the documents in person to your regular Food Stamp office.

For help gathering these documents and writing the letter, you can go to the Connecting to Advantages table at one of five food pantries on the days listed below:

1. Our Lady of Sorrows

   213 Stanton St. (corner of Pitt St. and Stanton St.)

   NYC 10002 – (212) 673-0900; Wed., 2-3 pm

2. Metropolitan Community Church

   446 West 36th Street (9th – 10th Avenues),

   NYC 10018 – (212) 629-7440; Thurs., 8:45 – 9:30 am

3. Mt. Zion AME Church

   1765 Madison Avenue (116 St.)

   NYC 10029 – (212) 369-6643; Friday 10-11 am

4. St. Francis Xavier Welcome Table

   55 West 15th Street,

   NYC 10011 – (212) 627-2100; 2nd Sat of each month, 10 am-12 noon

5. Metro Baptist Church

   410 West 40 Street (9th-10th Avenues)

   NYC 10018 – (212) 594-4464; Saturday, 11 am (if there’s a 5th Sat in the month, there’s no pantry and we’re not there)