Food Stamps

The Food Stamp Program can provide monthly benefits to low-income individuals for food. You may qualify if: you work for low wages; are unemployed or work part-time; receive welfare benefits; or are elderly or disabled and live on a small income. ATTENTION: Effective July 1, 2002, you can own one car with a value of up to $9,500 and still receive Food Stamps. If you have been turned down by the Food Stamp program in the past because of the value of your car, now is the time to re-apply.

Basic rules to qualify include the following:

Citizenship: Household members who are U.S. citizens and certain other non-citizens may qualify.

Resources: All households may have up to $2,000 worth of resources. Households of one or more may have up to $3,000 if one person is 60 years of age or older. Certain resources, like money and vehicles are counted toward these limits. Others, like your home, are not.

Income: Money you earn by working or payments you receive on a regular basis are counted as income. Food Stamp income limits increase as household size increases. Your household's income will be added and certain monthly expenses will be deducted to see if your household qualifies.

Can I Receive Food Stamps?

Does your monthly household income fit into the chart below? If it does, you should apply. 

Chart on Family Size and Gross Income 

How To Apply

Click Here to visit and apply to the State of Connecticut Food Stamp Program

To apply you must file an application and be interviewed by the Department of Social Services (DSS). If you cannot get to the office, you can give permission to someone who knows your circumstances and they can apply for you. If you cannot find someone to go for you, call the DSS office. You may qualify for a mail-in application or phone interview. If you are disabled or age 60 or older, you can do everything by mail.

If you have little or no money and need help quickly, tell the DSS office. You may be able to get help within seven (7) days. Otherwise, we will tell you if you are eligible or not within 30 days from the date you apply. 

The amount of food stamps you get will be based on your household's size and income after deductions. Receiving food stamps will not reduce the amount of other payments you receive, such as Social Security benefits. You can use food stamps to buy food at most stores that sell food. You cannot buy non-food items such as tobacco, alcohol, paper supplies or soap. The food stamp program helps low-income households buy foods needed for good health.

Food Stamp Hotline: 1 (800) 842-1508 

Department of Social Services programs are available to all applicants and recipients without regard to race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, disabilities, learning disabilities, national origin, ancestry or language barriers. 

A TDD/TTY line for persons who are deaf or hearing impaired is also available. Call 1-800-842-4524. 

Auxiliary aids are also available for blind or visually impaired person. 

Contact: 
New Britain Regional Sub-Office (serving the greater Plainville area)
270 Lafayette St., New Britain, CT 
Phone (860) 612 3400

LINKS to Other Area Resources

The Plainville Community Food Pantry realizes that we can not meet all the needs our clients may have. To assist in other ways, below are links and telephone numbers to additional resources.

United Way of West Central Connecticut 860 582 9559

Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS) Publication 
Programs that Help People In Connecticut 

In English (Click Here)

In Spanish (Click Here)