Food stamps should not affect your unemployment benefits; the Texas Work Commission figures your unemployment benefits through a formula that that relies primarily on your wages over the past year. Unemployment benefits affect food stamp allotments, however.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The federal government funds food assistance and sets guidelines, while states administer the program. The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 dedicated $10 billion to the program to address record high enrollment following the 2008 financial crisis and changed the name of the federal food assistance program from the Food Stamps Program to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Unemployment
The Texas Work Commission (TWC) administers unemployment benefits within the state. Benefits are based on wages during your last year of work. The TWC takes your highest-earning three months in the past year and divides the amount by 25; the resulting number is your weekly benefit amount. Benefits per week will be no less than $60 and no more than $415.
Part-Time Work
Should you engage in any work while receiving benefits, you should report the wages received from that work to the TWC, which will adjust your unemployment benefits according to a formula that deducts a percentage of the earned wages. Any extra government assistance such as food assistance and medical vouchers will not affect your unemployment benefits, since such help is not discretionary income.
SNAP Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for SNAP benefits if your monthly income is under 130 percent of the federal poverty rate. If you are receiving unemployment benefits, your monthly income is unemployment payments plus any additional part-time income. For fiscal year 2010--October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011--130 percent of the federal poverty rate translates to $1,174 for one person, $1,579 for two people and $1,984 for three people.
Adults without Dependents
Texas limits food assistance for unemployed able-bodied adults who are not taking care of children to three months every three years. After those three months, the individual must either be working part-time or in a job training program in order to extend food assistance benefits.
Application
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) runs an online benefits portal where Texans can apply for assistance such as SNAP online. You can also pick up an application for SNAP benefits at any HHSC office or call and request one mailed. The application asks for your monthly income and expenses as well as personal contact information. After submitting the application, you will be interviewed at an HHSC office by a case worker, who will determine your benefits.
