FoodShare: How to Apply

Your benefits will not be affected by a government shutdown.

DHS is closely monitoring all of the activities occurring at the federal level, including the possibility of a government shutdown. If the federal government shuts down on Saturday, January 31, you will continue to get your FoodShare benefits on your QUEST card on the normal schedule. You can use any benefits that are on your card to buy food during a shutdown. We will share information as it becomes available. For updates, visit the FoodShare News page.

FoodShare can help you buy healthy food. There are four ways you can apply for FoodShare:

Online through ACCESS (ACCESS in Spanish). Select Apply for benefits.
Call your agency.
Visit your agency.
Fill out a paper FoodShare Application, F-16019.

Your agency is based on the county or tribe you live in. Each county agency is part of a larger group called a consortium.

Not sure if you qualify?

You can find out if you qualify for FoodShare benefits before you apply. Go to ACCESS (ACCESS in Spanish), and select See if you can get help.

What to expect after you apply

After you apply for FoodShare, you must complete an interview. You can call or wait for your agency to call you for the interview. Your interview will be done by phone. You also can ask to meet in person at your agency office. You can find information about completing the interview on the application.

Apply now