How to apply for SNAP in Texas

Step-by-step guide to applying for SNAP food benefits in Texas through YourTexasBenefits and Texas Health and Human Services.

SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps) helps Texas households buy groceries with a monthly benefit loaded onto a Lone Star Card. It is administered in Texas by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).

Apply online

The fastest way to apply is through the state portal at YourTexasBenefits.com. You can also apply with the Your Texas Benefits mobile app, by mail, or in person at an HHSC benefits office — search our directory for the office nearest you.

What you will need

• Identity: driver license, state ID, or other photo ID for the applicant
• Proof of income: recent pay stubs, award letters, or self-employment records
• Housing costs: rent or mortgage statement, utility bills
• Social Security numbers for household members who have them

After you apply

HHSC schedules an interview (usually by phone) and decides most cases within 30 days. Households with very low income and resources may qualify for expedited SNAP within 7 days. Once approved, benefits arrive on a Lone Star Card that works like a debit card at most grocery stores and many farmers markets.

While you wait

You do not need SNAP approval to use a food pantry. Find a pantry near you — most ask for nothing more than your name and household size, and many require no documents at all. You can also dial 2-1-1 (211 Texas) for help with the application.