SI NY01801.001 (New Jersey) Food Stamps - The Agreement Between USDA and HHS

The food stamp (FS) program is designed to enable people with limited income to increase their purchasing power through the use of FS. The food stamps are used in place of cash to purchase foodstuffs at participating groceries and supermarkets.

The program is federally funded under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) through State/local FS agencies. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is mandated by law to take certain FS applications to make it easier for SSI applicants and recipients to receive FS. Field offices (FO) should also take FS applications, if applicable, over the telephone when taking SSI teleclaims. The completed forms should then be mailed to the claimant to sign. A return envelope, with the local FS office address, should also be enclosed so that the signed form can be mailed directly to the FS office.

Each State has the option of requesting SSA FOs to take the National FS application (prepared by FNS) or having the FOs use a State FS application. New Jersey decided that they want FOs to use a New Jersey FS application, the FSP-901 "Application for Participation in the Food Stamp Program."