Food Stamp & Social Security Info for anyone who is interested

[Dawnap]

If you have a driver's license from one state can you still get food stamps in another state? was wondering how that works. I am on SSI and am thinking seriously of going out on the road. But was unsure how this would affect my income from what I have now to then. Plus the medical part.
I have gone paperless for my SSI and it is great. I would like to go out to AZ, New Mexico and CA areas. My medical dr said if I go to AZ I might not have to do allergy shots any more. that would be so awesome. Now it is the psych med worry too. I am Bipolar and the meds I am on helps me to level out alot. So that is one of my major worries too. Not eligible for medicare.
I want the nomadic life really badly.
Has anyone out there had these kind of problems that could tell me how to deal with those issues?
Thanks

 

[HerzeleidMeister]

I have had no problem in getting SNAP or food stamps in another state with a different state ID as long as its current. The catch is, you have to have an address though. So I'd say set yourself up in the state you want to be in, get the mail forwarding in that state whichever one you want to use and put that as your address. If you are able to get Medicaid where you are now you probably can get it in one of the states you listed. Again get yourself set up with the address bit. My sister and I are both on disability SSDI. We get Medicare & Medicaid so going nomadic is a great opportunity for us. My sister is Schizo-Effective, so she needs Pmeds as well. We have never had a problem moving to a new place and finding a new doc. In your case you may want to establish a home base for your doc, and then get setup to go back and visit every 6 months or so once your meds are leveled out.

 

[John61CT]

Just remember that "setting up" with a residential address in a new state for benefits establishes a change of legal domicile, and the stringent states will want you to switch to a local DL / vehicle reg there as well.

In some scenarios it might look like motivation is fraud, so best to do your financial accounts, insurance, IRS etc all together, make sure to file state tax forms, register to vote etc.

This does **not** usually require changing the letterbox service mailing address. Just talking about consistency wrt your legal residence.

 

[HerzeleidMeister]

Just remember that "setting up" with a residential address in a new state for benefits establishes a change of legal domicile, and the stringent states will want you to switch to a local DL / vehicle reg there as well.

Actually no I've never ever in many years over many different states HAD to get a DL from the state that I was a resident in while on Food Stamps. As long as you can show that you reside in that state you should be able to get Food Stamps. There are homeless people on food stamps in probably every state in the US. They do not have an apartment, house etc. So vanlife would not bar you from getting food stamps either. The best thing to do is ask at whichever state food stamp office you go to. Many (if not all) states allow homeless people to have SNAP and even though vandwellers do not consider themselves homeless, many other people do including local & state offices.

 

[John61CT]

I did not mean that SNAP or other social services care about your car-related stuff.

That would be for the cops to worry about.

Just putting the "theoretical legal" requirements out there.

Some states, for example California, are real sticklers about this stuff.

Those who must pay state taxes need to be careful in particular, but receiving state-administered benefits, including subsidized health care, is also an area to be cautious.

Another example - paying for insurance does you no good if they can deny coverage because of false statement on your forms.

at least be aware what the rules are since ignorance is no defence.

For me, being consistent across all the bureaucracies with one "legend" to keep track of, just helps keep things simple

 

[RowanFae]

I'm going to call Tuesday and see if I can get set up with paperless for my SSD.

I don't receive SSI, SNAP or Medicaid. My disability payment is too high, disqualifies me. Which is fine with me, less hoops to jump through.

My experience, applying for disability, was 4 months from the time I applied online to my acceptance letter. As I understand things, I was fortunate and my experience isn't the norm. For some reason I receive more in disability than both my roommates combined disability, SSI and food stamp? I did work 84+ hours a week for over a decade, so I suppose my previous incomes and money that I put into SS is where my higher SSD income.

I'm struggling with whether to change my drivers license AGAIN. I just did that a couple months ago and it's good for 8 years! Also, my car insurance is Half it was in Michigan. Plus, I'm not going to have a place of residence to even use, unless I use my son's home. It won't be lying, to not change it. Since my place of residence will change with the weather.

Ugh, this all makes my brain hurt.

 

[HerzeleidMeister]

My experience, applying for disability, was 4 months from the time I applied online to my acceptance letter.  As I understand things, I was fortunate and my experience isn't the norm.  For some reason I receive more in disability than both my roommates combined disability, SSI and food stamp?  I did work 84+ hours a week for over a decade, so I suppose my previous incomes and money that I put into SS is where my higher SSD income. 

WOW 4 months? It took me about 3 years and a lawyer to get mine. It took my sister about 2 years.

 

[RowanFae]

WOW 4 months? It took me about 3 years and a lawyer to get mine. It took my sister about 2 years.

Yep, 4 months. I filled out the online application, sent them my medical info/records when they asked. Went to two appts with their Dr's/Specialists and by month 4 I was approved. 

I had the medical documentation over a long (decades worth) history with evidence of a declining ability to work. I went from 84+ hours a week for 10 years to 60+ hours a week for 5 years to 40 hours, then 30 then 20.  I pushed myself nearly into the grave before I bit the bullet and applied. I actually enjoyed what I did. All that to say,  yep. 4 months

 

[HerzeleidMeister]

Yep, 4 months. I filled out the online application, sent them my medical info/records when they asked. Went to two appts with their Dr's/Specialists and by month 4 I was approved. 

I had the medical documentation over a long (decades worth) history with evidence of a declining ability to work. I went from 84+ hours a week for 10 years to 60+ hours a week for 5 years to 40 hours, then 30 then 20.  I pushed myself nearly into the grave before I bit the bullet and applied. I actually enjoyed what I did. All that to say,  yep. 4 months

Both my sister and I did all that too. : But at least we eventually got approved.

 

[RowanFae]

Both my sister and I did all that too. : But at least we eventually got approved.

 
My two roommates and friends took years to get theirs as well.  I think they ended up having to get lawyers.  I really don't know how I managed to avoid the hoops and roadblocks.  I'm glad things worked out for you and your sister.

 

[vfourmax]

I was another whom was blessed with a quick approval for my disability. I knew that I qualified for several years but with so many people and stories claiming such long battles to actually get approved and start receiving benefits I just kept pushing and working.

As a result I ended up in the hospital and spent 30 days as an inpatient. The hospital had staff which handled ALL of the "DISABILITY" paperwork and from the time of my entering the hospital till the date of my acceptance of full permanent disability was a total of 22 days.

I also see what most people list as their disability payments and feel fortunate as to the amount I receive. I also do not get any type of help as far as medicaid or snap benefits but again I also like not having to jump through the hoops.

I have just reached the point of switching from marketplace insurance to medicare and it does seem to not be as good as what I had prior to the medicare and more expensive as far as drug cost and so on.

I do know I was very, very fortunate to get my disability approved so quickly but credit that to the hospital professionals that knew the system and what needed to be done and what information was needed and unlike an attorney was not getting a cut of my benefits which did not benefit dragging it out so they got a bigger cut because of accrued back pay.

 

[WalkaboutTed]

Less than 6 weeks after submitting all my paperwork here I was approved for the first day I was eligible (5 months to the day after my last day of work) I submitted my own claim. Remember that disability attorneys collect more the longer it takes to get your claim approved, so its in their best interests to drag it out for years.

As an RN, I worked with many clients applying for disability. If you look at the Social Security website and lists of disabilities and documentation required, if you put it all into the order that the website lists, you've made it easy for the Social Security employee to check off the requirements. It's not rocket science.
Ted

 

[WalkaboutTed]

Social Security site address for adult lists of disabilities. If you have more than one condition, submit info on all of them because the requirements are not so strict as one condition alone. Click on your category for conditions and documentation required:

https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm