Library: News Releases
For Media Inquiries, Contact:
George Earl Johnson Jr. - OKDHS Office of Communications
Phone: (405) 521-3027,
Fax: (405) 522-3146
e-mail:
George.Johnson@OKDHS.org
OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- While paper Food Stamps are a thing of the past, the concept and philosophy of the program remain the same.
At one time or another, most people have had trouble making ends meet. For those times, the Federal Food Stamp program is there to help stretch their budget while they work to move themselves up the economic ladder.
Food Stamps are a monthly benefit designed to help people regain or maintain self-sufficiency by issuing benefits that are used to purchase food items. The Food Stamps themselves are 100 percent federally-funded and administrative costs are divided equally between state and federal funds.
Adults between the ages of 18 and 50 who have no dependents and work at least 20 hours per week can receive Food Stamps. A one-person household with a gross monthly income of $893 could be eligible for up to $127 a month in Food Stamp benefits. Applicants younger than 18 and older than age 50 do not have to meet work requirements and can qualify without dependents. Today, some of the 70,000 aged, blind and disabled in Oklahoma take advantage of this benefit monthly.
"People who are embarrassed to inquiry about the Food Stamp program should not be," said Linda Hughes, Oklahoma Food Stamp Director. "Personal information given to OKDHS staff is held in strict confidence." According to Hughes, it takes less than an hour to fill out all the necessary paperwork.
The application is processed and the applicant is scheduled for a conference with a social worker within 10 days. If the applicant is in an emergency situation and needs assistance quickly, the application is processed and an Electronic Benefits Transfer Food Stamp card (EBT) is issued within seven days. People who have applied in the past but have been denied can reapply when their financial situation changes.
In January of 1998, Oklahoma implemented the ACCESS card system statewide. The ACCESS card works just like a debit or Automatic Teller Machine card. Cardholders choose a personal identification number that is used every time a purchase is made with the card. This eliminates the possibility of lost or stolen cards being used without the original cardholders consent. Cardholders can also use any ATM machine to check their balance. The ACCESS card is a simple, safe and discrete method of accessing Food Stamp benefits.
Those who participate in the Food Stamp program can also take advantage of the Community Nutrition Education Program. This program, provided in cooperation with the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and Langston University, provides personalized nutrition education. Families that enroll receive instruction in food preparation, budgeting, shopping, special dietary needs and planning needs. This program promotes good health by showing families how to purchase and prepare nutritious, healthy meals with their available resources.
Food Stamp use has declined steadily in recent years. The number of Oklahomans receiving Food Stamps dropped from about 330,000 persons in December 1996, to around 260,000 in December 1999. Even with this decline, thousands of Oklahomans still need and use Food Stamps to make ends meet 365 days a year.
At one time or another, most people have had trouble making ends meet. For those times, the Federal Food Stamp program is there to help stretch their budget while they work to move themselves up the economic ladder.
Food Stamps are a monthly benefit designed to help people regain or maintain self-sufficiency by issuing benefits that are used to purchase food items. The Food Stamps themselves are 100 percent federally-funded and administrative costs are divided equally between state and federal funds.
Adults between the ages of 18 and 50 who have no dependents and work at least 20 hours per week can receive Food Stamps. A one-person household with a gross monthly income of $893 could be eligible for up to $127 a month in Food Stamp benefits. Applicants younger than 18 and older than age 50 do not have to meet work requirements and can qualify without dependents. Today, some of the 70,000 aged, blind and disabled in Oklahoma take advantage of this benefit monthly.
"People who are embarrassed to inquiry about the Food Stamp program should not be," said Linda Hughes, Oklahoma Food Stamp Director. "Personal information given to OKDHS staff is held in strict confidence." According to Hughes, it takes less than an hour to fill out all the necessary paperwork.
The application is processed and the applicant is scheduled for a conference with a social worker within 10 days. If the applicant is in an emergency situation and needs assistance quickly, the application is processed and an Electronic Benefits Transfer Food Stamp card (EBT) is issued within seven days. People who have applied in the past but have been denied can reapply when their financial situation changes.
In January of 1998, Oklahoma implemented the ACCESS card system statewide. The ACCESS card works just like a debit or Automatic Teller Machine card. Cardholders choose a personal identification number that is used every time a purchase is made with the card. This eliminates the possibility of lost or stolen cards being used without the original cardholders consent. Cardholders can also use any ATM machine to check their balance. The ACCESS card is a simple, safe and discrete method of accessing Food Stamp benefits.
Those who participate in the Food Stamp program can also take advantage of the Community Nutrition Education Program. This program, provided in cooperation with the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and Langston University, provides personalized nutrition education. Families that enroll receive instruction in food preparation, budgeting, shopping, special dietary needs and planning needs. This program promotes good health by showing families how to purchase and prepare nutritious, healthy meals with their available resources.
Food Stamp use has declined steadily in recent years. The number of Oklahomans receiving Food Stamps dropped from about 330,000 persons in December 1996, to around 260,000 in December 1999. Even with this decline, thousands of Oklahomans still need and use Food Stamps to make ends meet 365 days a year.
"We want to help everyone eligible for the program even if people think others need it more than they do," said Hughes. "The amount of Food Stamp benefits available for Oklahoma residents is not a capped figure. We can help as many people as we have applications for and have determined them to meet the Federal eligibility requirements."
"Food Stamp benefits not only help our Oklahoma families, they add to the economy of the state," said Hughes. "Families using Food Stamp benefits are spending dollars that would not have been otherwise available in our state." In fiscal year 1999, nearly $227 million were pumped into Oklahoma through the Food Stamp program.
If you would like more information about Oklahoma’s Food Stamp Program, call 1-800-221-5689, or contact your local OKDHS Human Services Center.
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