The Food Stamp Program is about good nutrition and health. It provides eligible individuals and households with benefits to buy food items at grocery stores, and other participating food retailers.

The Food Stamp Program also gives recipients a chance to learn more about purchasing and preparing nutritious meals.

You may qualify for food stamp benefits depending on your household size, income, expenses and resources. You may qualify even if you own your home, have no home or live with someone else. You can have a job and you don't have to have children as long as your household meets eligibility guidelines.

What You Can Buy With Your Food Benefits

With your Food Stamp benefits you can buy milk and other dairy products; meat, fish, poultry, eggs and beans; cereals, rice, pasta and other grain products; any ingredient used for baking or cooking; fruits and vegetables; cold deli foods for home consumption; ice and water for human consumption; infant formula, some special dietetic or diabetic food and "natural" or "organic" food items; and garden seeds and plants for growing food at home.

You cannot buy any kind of beer, alcohol or wine; any type of tobacco products; non-food items like cleaning products, soap and paper products; drugstore medicines such as aspirin, cough syrup and vitamins; items to preserve food such as jars and freezer containers; any "hot" prepared foods that are ready to eat; and foods not for people such as pet foods.

How You Will Receive Your Food Stamp Benefits

Your food benefits are directly deposited once a month into your Electronic Benefits Transfer food stamp account. You will use an EBT debit card to go shopping at participating grocery stores. At check out, you will use the same card machine used by all other customers. The store clerk is trained to assist you if you need help. You can apply for Food Stamps online at: https://nheasy.nh.gov

Food Stamp Program Work Rules

Please read this important information about work rules for certain Food Stamp recipients (English) (Spanish) (Nepali)

If you do not understand these rules or have questions about them, please contact your local District Office or Client Services.

Food Stamp Employment & Training Program

If you get Food Stamps, we have services that can help you find and get a job. This is a voluntary program and you can take part in the Food Stamp Employment & Training (FSET) program, as long as you are not also getting FANF cash assistance. FSET Technicians are here to help you with your job search efforts and refer you to other community services. They can help you with your travel costs for your job search at $.21 per mile, up to $40 per month, for up to 6 months per year, once you have joined the FSET program. The FSET Technicians provide this help to you over the phone, and through mail, email and fax. There are no in-person meetings needed to get these services.

Additional Training Information

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program offers free employment and training opportunities for dislocated workers, underemployed individuals, and public assistance recipients. Some of the services that they offer are: occupational skills training, on-the-job training, support services, educational services, job search and job readiness activities, employment strategies and career planning. To learn more about these opportunities, please visit the Southern New Hampshire Services website at: http://www.snhs.org/programs/workforce-development/work force-investment-act-wia/

The Health Profession Opportunity Project (HPOP) is an opportunity for eligible, low-income adults to train for, and find jobs in, the health care occupations in New Hampshire. Case managers work closely with participants to match individual interests and abilities with in-demand health occupations that are available in the labor market. Financial support is available for educational expenses/tuition, and supportive services as determined by individual needs. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity to pursue a career in the medical field, please go to: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/omh/hpop.htm

Please call (800) 852-3345, ext 9329 or (603) 271-9329 to enroll in the FSET program. FSET Technicians are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Once enrolled, job search logs are used to track job search efforts and miles traveled. Job search logs are available to be downloaded (Please note: You must be an enrolled participant in the FSET program in order to receive mileage reimbursement. Call an FSET Technician first if you wish to enroll.)

Forms can be submitted in any one of the following ways:

By mail:

• NH Department of Health and Human Services
  Attn: FSET Technician
  129 Pleasant St., Brown Building
  Concord, NH 03301-3852

By fax:

• (603) 271-4637
  Attn: FSET Technician

By e-mail:

• There are two ways you can submit a log by e-mail. You can either scan the log and send the file as an attachment to an e-mail to FSET@dhhs.state.nh.us; or, you can save the PDF file to your computer, complete the form, and send the file as an attachment to an e-mail to FSET@dhhs.state.nh.us.

Please call (800) 852-3345, ext 9329 for more information regarding the Employment & Training Program.

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