If you live in Philadelphia and are facing food insecurity, there is help available to you. The Pennsylvania Food Stamps Program provides help to Philadelphia households that cannot afford food for good nutrition. This guide, we will provide with you everything you need to know about Food Stamps in Philadelphia.
In addition, we will help you find out if you’re eligible for Food Stamps in Philadelphia, walk you through the steps on how to apply for Pennsylvania Food Stamps, and much more.
This guide will cover the following topics:
- Pennsylvania Food Stamps Program
- Food Stamps in Philadelphia Guide for 2022
- PA Food Stamps Eligibility
- Pennsylvania Food Stamps Income Guidelines
- Pennsylvania Food Stamps Calculator
- How to Apply for Food Stamps in Philadelphia
- Philadelphia Food Stamps Office Locations
- Philadelphia Food Stamp Schedule
- Customer Service Phone Number
To learn everything you need to know about Food Stamps in Philadelphia, please continue reading below.
Pennsylvania Food Stamps Program
The Pennsylvania Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly known as food stamps is the state’s food assistance program.
The Pennsylvania Food Stamps Program provides low-income individuals and households with monthly cash benefits to purchase the food they need for good health.
Eligibility for Pennsylvania SNAP, as well as benefit amount, is based on your household’s size and income level.
A household can be one person, a family, or any combination of people that buy and prepare food together.
Children living with their parents are considered part of the same household until the age of 22.
Furthermore, many legal non-citizens are eligible for Food Stamp benefits in Pennsylvania.
Also, even if you can’t get SNAP benefits for yourself, other members of your household may be eligible.
Once approved monthly benefits are provided on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that works just like a bank debit card.
Your Pennsylvania EBT Card can be used to buy food at most grocery stores and markets (including some Farmers Markets).
Food Stamps in Philadelphia Guide for 2022
In Philadelphia, the Food Stamps Program is managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS).
In addition to food stamp benefits, the Pennsylvania DHS also handles Temporary Cash Assistance, Medicaid, Medicaid for Pregnant Women, Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP), LIHEAP, Rental Assistance and Refugee Services.
The Pennsylvania DHS uses the COMPASS Online Portal to apply for and manage your assistance benefits online.
We will walk you through the steps on how to use the COMPASS website to apply for food stamp benefits in Philadelphia.
Who is Eligible for Food Stamps in Philadelphia?
The categories of people that are eligible for food assistance in Philadelphia:
- Any Pennsylvania household or individual (including homeless) with no or low income
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients
- College students who meet eligibility requirements
- Legal permanent residents and qualified immigrants
- Elderly (age 60 or older) and disabled household members
For the complete list of Pennsylvania eligibility requirements for Philadelphia food stamps, continue reading below
Pennsylvania Food Stamp Requirements & Eligibility
For help figuring out if your household qualifies for food assistance, please carefully review the Pennsylvania food stamps requirements and eligibility guidelines below.
First, here is a list of items you will need in order to apply for food stamps in Philadelphia:
#1 – Proof of Identity
Applicants must provide proof of their identity to confirm who they are. Your identity can be be verified by providing any one of the accepted verification documents.
Any of the following documents are accepted by the Pennsylvania DHS:
- Government-issued ID or Driver’s License
- Work or School ID
- Voter Registration Card
- Birth Certificate
#2 – Social Security Numbers
All households applying for food stamp benefits in Philadelphia must provide the Social Security Number (SSN) for each household member, including children.
However, if you do not have a SSN but have applied for one, then proof of your application is also eligible.
Household members that are not eligible for Pennsylvania food stamps do not have to provide or apply for a Social Security Number.
#3 – Residency
The applicant must live in the state of Pennsylvania to qualify for Food Stamps in Philadelphia.
Individuals without a permanent residence or a fixed mailing address can get SNAP benefits as long as they can provide proof of residency.
#4 – Work Rules
There are special rules for able-bodied adults without dependent children (ABAWD) in Pennsylvania.
If you are an able-bodied adult without dependents between the ages of 18 and 50, you must meet certain requirements to receive benefits for more than three consecutive months.
You must register for work or be working at least 20 hours per week or an average of 80 hours per month to receive PA Food Stamp benefits.
For more information on the food stamp work rules, read the Pennsylvania Work Requirements for 2022.
#5 – Citizenship Status
U.S. citizens and legal non-citizens are eligible for Food Stamps in Philadelphia, PA.
Furthermore, even if some members of the household are not eligible, those who are may be able to get Pennsylvania SNAP benefits.
#6 – Eligibility for Aged and Disabled Households
There are special rules for households with seniors and people who are disabled.
If you are age 60 or over, or you are receiving Social Security Disability or Medicare due to a disability, or a full VA pension here’s what you need to know.
You may be eligible with income over the regular limits if you pay very high rent and utilities and/or have medical expenses over $35 per month.
However, this must be computed on a case-by-case basis.
#7 – Asset Limits
Your total household assets must fall below certain limits to receive PA SNAP.
Households without an elderly or disabled person must have assets of $2,250 or less.
However, households with an elderly or has a disabled person must have assets of $3,500 or less.
#8 – Income and Deductions
To be eligible for Philadelphia Food Stamps, your monthly gross income (before payroll deductions) must be the same or below the amount listed in the chart for your household size.
Pennsylvania SNAP uses your total household income to determine your eligibility for food stamp benefits.
Most households must have a total gross monthly income less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level, to be potentially eligible for PA SNAP.
Gross monthly income is a household’s total income before subtracting any allowable deductions.
These deductions are particular expenses that are subtracted from the household’s monthly gross income. This will give you your total household’s net income.
Food Stamps Pennsylvania Income Guidelines
Your household’s total income is the single most important factor when determining if you qualify for Pennsylvania food stamp benefits.
Most households must have a total gross monthly income less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level, to be potentially eligible for PA SNAP.
If your household has a person who is 60 or older or disabled, only the net income limit must be met.
Use the Pennsylvania Food Stamps Income Limit Chart below to see if your household income qualifies for benefits in Philadelphia County.
| Number of People in Household | Maximum Monthly Gross Income Allowed – 200% Federal Poverty Level | Maximum Monthly Net Income Allowed – 100% Federal Poverty Level |
| 1 | $2,148 | $1,074 |
| 2 | $2,904 | $1,452 |
| 3 | $3,660 | $1,830 |
| 4 | $4,418 | $2,209 |
| 5 | $5,174 | $2,587 |
| 6 | $5,930 | $2,965 |
| 7 | $6,688 | $3,344 |
| 8 | $7,444 | $3,722 |
| 9 | $8,202 | $4,101 |
| 10 | $8,960 | $4,480 |
| Each additional member | +$758 | +$379 |
Pennsylvania SNAP Income Deductions
When determining your household’s total net income, you are asked to determine any allowable deductions your household may qualify for.
These deductions are subtracted from your household’s monthly gross income to arrive at the net monthly income.
Your household’s net income is used to determine eligibility and the amount of Pennsylvania food stamp benefits you will receive each month.
The Pennsylvania food stamps allowable deductions include:
- 20 percent deduction from earned income to account for work-related expenses and payroll taxes.
- A standard deduction based on household size (see below) to account for basic unavoidable costs.
- Dependent care deduction for out-of-pocket child care or when needed for work, training, or education.
- Child support deduction for any legally obligated child support that a member of the household pays.
- Medical expense deduction for elderly or disabled household members that have incurred out-of-pocket medical expenses greater than $35 a month.
- Homeless household shelter deduction of $159.73.
- Excess shelter deduction for households with a shelter cost that exceed more than half of the household’s income. This deduction is uncapped for households with an elderly or disabled member. However, for all other households, this deduction is capped at $597 per month.
Once you have subtracted all eligible deductions from your household gross income, this will give you your monthly net income.
Food Stamps Standard Deduction in Pennsylvania
The food stamps standard deduction varies based on your household size and location. Please use the chart provided below to find the standard deduction amount for your household size.
| Pennsylvania SNAP Standard Deductions for Fiscal Year 2022 | |
| Effective October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022 | |
| Household Size: | Standard Deduction: |
| 1-2 | $177 |
| 3 | $177 |
| 4 | $184 |
| 5 | $215 |
| 6+ | $246 |
How much will I get in Pennsylvania food stamps?
If you are approved for food stamps in Pennsylvania, the amount of benefits you receive depends on the:
- Number of people in your household,
- Total amount of your household’s income, and
- U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Thrifty Food Plan.
The Thrifty Food Plan is a government estimate of how much it costs to provide a household with nutritious, low-cost meals.
Pennsylvania Food Stamps Calculator
The table below will show you the maximum amount of Pennsylvania food stamps you can expect to receive each month.
The SNAP maximum monthly allotment is based on a household with ZERO income.
It is important to note that as your household income increase, your food stamp benefits will decrease.
| Household Size | Pennsylvania SNAP Maximum Monthly Allotment |
| 1 | $250 |
| 2 | $459 |
| 3 | $658 |
| 4 | $835 |
| 5 | $992 |
| 6 | $1,190 |
| 7 | $1,316 |
| 8 | $1,504 |
| Each Additional Member: | +$188 |
How to Apply for Food Stamps in Philadelphia
If you meet the eligibility guidelines and believe you are eligible for Philadelphia Food Stamps, the next step is to submit your PA SNAP Application for benefits. There are three ways to apply for food stamps in Philadelphia – online, in-person, or by mail.
Option 1 – Online at MyCOMPASS PA
The easiest and quickest way to apply for Food Stamps in Philadelphia is online at the COMPASS Portal.
You can complete your Philadelphia Food Stamps Application online through the PA COMPASS website by visiting www.compass.state.pa.us.
If you have an account, you can log into your account using your COMPASS User ID and Password.
For help logging into your COMPASS online account, follow our step-by-step My Compass PA Login instructions.
If this is your first time using the MyCompass PA online portal, you must first create an account.
Follow our step-by-step instructions on how to create a COMPASS PA Online Account.
Option 2 – By Mail
To apply for Philadelphia food stamp benefits by mail, download the Pennsylvania SNAP Application online. You can download the Pennsylvania Food Stamps Application here.
You can also request to have an application mailed to you. Please contact the Pennsylvania DHS Customer Service hotline to have an application mailed to you by calling 1-800-692-7462.
Once you complete the PA SNAP Application, you can mail it to your local Philadelphia DHS Office.
Additionally, you can drop off your completed Pennsylvania Food Stamps Application to your local DHS office.
Option 3 – In Person at DHS Office
Lastly, you can apply for PA food stamps in-person at a Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) office near you.
To locate the Philadelphia DHS County Assistance Office near you, continue reading below.
After you apply, you will be assigned a DHS case worker who will schedule your telephone interview.
During your SNAP interview, you may be asked to provide:
- Proof of identity
- Citizenship or immigration status
- Social Security numbers for those requesting assistance
- Proof of household income.
Philadelphia Food Stamps Office Locations
If you are looking for the Philadelphia Food Stamps Office near you, we can help. There are 13 DHS County Assistance office locations in Philadelphia County.
You can visit a Philadelphia food stamps office to apply for benefits, complete your interview, renew your SNAP benefits, and get help with your benefits and Pennsylvania EBT Card.
Below is a list of all the Philadelphia DHS County Assistance Office locations.
The Philadelphia Food Stamp Offices are:
Philadelphia Assistance Office (Headquarters)
801 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 215-560-7226
Fax: 215-560-3214
Boulevard Assistance Office
4109 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19124
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 215-560-6500
Fax: 215-560-2087
Chelten Assistance Office
301 East Chelten Avenue, 1st Flr.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 215-560-5200
Fax: 215-560-5251
Delancey Assistance Office
5740 Market Street 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19139
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 215-560-3700
Fax: 215-560-2907
Elmwood Assistance Office
5740 Market Street 1st Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19139
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 215-560-3800
Fax: 215-560-2065
Glendale Assistance Office
5201 Old York Road
Philadelphia, PA 19141
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 215-560-4600
Fax: 215-456-5103
Liberty Assistance Office
219 East Lehigh Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19125
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 215-560-4000
Fax: 215-560-4065
Long Term Assistance Office
5070 Parkside Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 215-560-5500
Fax: 215-560-1495
Ridge/Tioga Assistance Office
1350 West Sedgley Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19132
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 215-560-4900
Fax: 215-560-4938
Somerset Assistance Office
2701 N. Broad Street, 2nd Flr.
Philadelphia, PA 19132
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 215-560-5400
Fax: 215-560-5403
South Assistance Office
1163 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 215-560-4400
Fax: 215-218-4650
Unity Food Stamp Office
4111 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19124
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 215-560-6400
Fax: 215-560-2067
West Assistance Office
5070 Parkside Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 215-560-6100
Fax: 215-560-2053
For a complete list of all the DHS County Assistance Offices in Pennsylvania, use our Pennsylvania SNAP Office Location finder.
Philadelphia Food Stamps Schedule
In the state of Pennsylvania, the DHS is responsible for issuing all Philadelphia Food Stamps benefits.
The Philadelphia Food Stamps Schedule is not on the same date each month.
Instead, Pennsylvania food stamp benefits are deposited on PA EBT Cards over the first 10 business days of every month.
The date your benefits are deposited on your Pennsylvania EBT Card depends on the last digit of your SNAP Case Number.
Philadelphia Food Stamps are available on your EBT Card between midnight and 6am each day. After 6am no additional benefits are added to EBT accounts.
To find out what day to expect your benefits, use the Philadelphia Food Stamps Schedule provided below.
Philadelphia SNAP Benefits Deposit Schedule
Here is the SNAP benefits deposit schedule based on the last digit of your case number:
| The last digit of your Case Number ends in | SNAP Benefits are available on the |
| 1 | 1st business day of the month |
| 2 | 2nd business day of the month |
| 3 | 3rd business day of the month |
| 4 | 4th business day of the month |
| 5 | 5th business day of the month |
| 6 | 6th business day of the month |
| 7 | 7th business day of the month |
| 8 | 8th business day of the month |
| 9 | 9th business day of the month |
| 0 | 10th business day of the month |
Once your benefits are deposited into your account, you can begin using them with your Pennsylvania EBT card to purchase eligible food items.
If you need additional help, including how to find your Pennsylvania Case Number, check out our Pennsylvania EBT Deposit Schedule article.
What happens if I didn’t get my benefits?
If you did not receive your Philadelphia food stamp benefits in your account by 6am on your scheduled deposit day, please call the PA EBT hotline at 1-888-328-7366.
What can I buy with Pennsylvania EBT Benefits?
Your Pennsylvania ACCESS EBT card works like a debit card. You can use your PA EBT Card to buy food at most grocery stores.
At the checkout counter, swipe the card and enter a 4-digit PIN number to use your SNAP/food stamps to buy food.
You can buy any food product available at participating grocery stores (with the exception of prepared foods).
You can locate stores that accept Pennsylvania SNAP benefits, including online by using our Philadelphia EBT Store Locator.
Additionally, you can use your SNAP benefits at participating PA farmers’ markets and healthy corner stores.
Some farmers’ markets accept Food Bucks coupons – which doubles your SNAP dollars and enables you to buy nutritious fresh food through the Fresh Access and Fresh Corners programs.
Here’s what you can buy with Pennsylvania SNAP EBT:
- Fruits and vegetables;
- Meat, poultry, and fish;
- Dairy products;
- Breads and cereals;
- Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages; and
- Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat.
You CANNOT use Pennsylvania SNAP EBT benefits to buy:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase.
- Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store).
- Prepared Foods fit for immediate consumption
- Hot foods
- Any nonfood items such as:
– Pet foods
– Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies.
– Hygiene items, cosmetics
To learn more, visit our article on the Pennsylvania Food Stamps Approved Food Items.
Can I get PA Food Stamps Today?
You can get Expedited PA SNAP benefits if one of the following applies to your situation:
- Does your household have $100 or less in available cash and bank accounts
and expect to receive less than $150 in income this month? - Are you a migrant or seasonal farmworker?
- Are your monthly gross income and cash and bank accounts less than your
rent/mortgage and utility costs for this month?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you may have a right to expedited SNAP benefits.
This means you can get SNAP benefits within five calendar days of the date you apply.
Philadelphia Food Stamps Customer Service
For more help with your Pennsylvania food stamps, contact the Philadelphia Food Stamps Customer Service phone number at 1-215-560-7226.
Customer Service representatives are available to assist you Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you are hearing impaired or deaf, please contact TDD Services by calling PA Relay Services at 711.
Customer service can help answer your questions about Pennsylvania SNAP benefits eligibility, application, EBT Card, or any other general questions.
In addition, you can contact your local Philadelphia County Assistance Office (PA DHS) or call the Pennsylvania SNAP Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930.
Food Stamps in Philadelphia Questions
We hope you found this guide on Food Stamps in Philadelphia helpful! If you have any additional questions about how to get food stamps in Philadelphia or Pennsylvania SNAP EBT benefits, please let us know in the comments section below.
If the meantime, check out our other articles on Pennsylvania Food Stamps:
Can you get Food Stamps in Pennsylvania without a job?
How long will SNAP Increase last in Pennsylvania?
PA EBT Card Discounts & Freebies
