SNAP, otherwise known as food stamps is a benefits assistance program that helps limited-income individuals and families buy the food they need in order to stay healthy. If you live in Buffalo, New York, and need help with SNAP, we can help. In this post, we will review everything you need to know about Buffalo Food Stamps – including eligibility, how to apply for benefits in Buffalo, Mybenefits.ny.gov login help, and how much you will get in SNAP if approved.
Before we get into New York eligibility guidelines, first, we will explain what SNAP is about and who is eligible to apply.
Next, we will explain the income guidelines in detail, which are the most important eligibility criteria.
We will then walk you through the 3 ways you can apply for SNAP in Buffalo, New York.
Also, we will walk you through how much you are likely to receive in SNAP if you are approved.
Lastly, we will provide the contact information for the SNAP Center Office in Buffalo, including the phone number and hours of operation.
Table of Contents:
- Who is Eligible for Food Stamps in Buffalo, NY?
- Can I Get New York SNAP as an Immigrant?
- SNAP Eligibility Interview
- How do I apply for Food Stamps in Buffalo, NY?
- Can I get SNAP right away or within a few days of applying?
- New York Mybenefits.ny.gov Login Help
- How Much Will I Get in New York SNAP?
- Buffalo SNAP Office Contact Information
- Frequently Asked Questions about Food Stamp in Buffalo
What are SNAP Benefits?
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits help you pay for food. You can use SNAP at grocery stores, supermarkets, and farmer’s markets.
Anyone can apply for SNAP benefits.
You may be eligible even if you have a job, receive SSI or disability benefits, own a home, or own a car.
If you are eligible and approved for benefits, you will receive SNAP benefits within 30 days.
Additionally, certain households with little income or savings, or with high housing costs, can receive SNAP benefits within five days (see below for details).
Nearly 1.7 million New Yorkers receive SNAP benefits, a number that has increased amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who is Eligible for Food Stamps in Buffalo, NY?
SNAP benefits are for:
- Individuals or families
- People who work for low wages, work part-time or are unemployed
- Those who receive TANF or Safety Net
- People who are elderly or disabled and have a limited income
- People who are homeless or are in a shelter for domestic violence
Can I Get New York City SNAP as an Immigrant?
In general, only U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or immigrants with a qualified alien (also known as
qualified immigrant) status can qualify for federal, state, and city benefits, including Food Stamps.
The following immigrants are considered qualified and can get SNAP or food stamps:
- Lawful Permanent Resident (Permanent Resident Alien or Green Card Holder)
- Lawfully residing active duty service member or honorably discharged veteran and their families
- Refugee
- Asylee
- Immigrants whose deportation or removal is being withheld
- Cuban or Haitian entrant
- Amerasians
- Trafficked immigrant (T visa holders)
- Immigrants granted parole in the United States (for at least one year)
- Battered immigrant spouses and children of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents
SNAP Eligibility Interview
In order to complete the eligibility process, an interview with you or your authorized representative is required. The interview may be done by phone or in person.
During the interview, your application will be reviewed and you will be given time to submit proof of your income, expenses, and other information.
Documents you may be asked to submit include:
- Proof of Identity (photo ID, birth certificate, Social Security card)
- Social Security numbers for all household members
- Birth certificates for all children in the household
- Proof of shelter expenses (rent receipt, lease or mortgage)
- Proof of utility expenses (e.g., National Grid bill)
- Bank statement(s)
- Proof of income (child support letter, SS benefits statement, pay stubs, SSI award letters, etc.)
- Medical bills (if you are disabled and/or senior)
- Child care expenses
What are the Income Limits for SNAP in New York?
| New York City SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2022 | ||
| Effective October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022 | ||
| Household Size | Households without earned income | Households with earned income |
| 1 | $1,396 | $1,610 |
| 2 | $1,888 | $2,178 |
| 3 | $2,379 | $2,745 |
| 4 | $2,871 | $3,313 |
| 5 | $3,363 | $3,880 |
| 6 | $3,855 | $4,448 |
| 7 | $4,347 | $5,015 |
| 8 | $4,839 | $5,583 |
| Each additional member | +492 | +568 |
The Maximum Gross Monthly Income limits that are shown in the table below are effective
October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022.
Different income limits are used for SNAP households that:
• Have a person with a disability or 60 years of age or older; or
• Pay dependent care expenses
If everyone in your household receives SSI, TANF, or SNA, you do not need to meet any
income limit.
How do I apply for Food Stamps in Buffalo, NY?
There are four (4) ways you can apply for food stamps in Buffalo:
1. Apply Online
Click here to apply for New York food stamps online through the mybenefits.ny.gov website.
You can check your eligibility for more than 20 state programs here.
Select your county of residence from the dropdown menu and you will be taken to the page to apply.
2. Apply Over the Phone
3. Print Out the Application and Mail/Fax it In.
Erie County Department of Social Services
P.O. Box 120
Buffalo, NY 14201;
4. Apply in Person
Erie County DSS
158 Pearl Street
3rd Floor, Rath Building
Buffalo, NY 14202
Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Walk-in applications are accepted Monday – Friday between these hours
Can I get SNAP right away or within a few days of applying?
You may be eligible for expedited SNAP if you meet one of the following:
- Your household has $100 or less in liquid resources and less than $150 in gross monthly income.
- You are a migrant or seasonal farmworker household with $100 or less in liquid resources and you have not received any income since you applied for SNAP, or
- Your household’s monthly income and liquid resources together are less than the total of your monthly rent or mortgage and heating costs and utilities (electricity, telephone, and water).
However, you will still have to complete the eligibility process and supply the requested documentation at a later date.
Mybenefits.ny.gov Login Help
With a mybenefits.ny.gov account, you can perform the following tasks online regarding the New York SNAP program:
- Apply for HEAP
- See Eligibility and Apply for SNAP/Food Stamps
- Apply for Public Assistance
- Continue Application
- Track Application
- Recertify Benefits
- Report Changes
- View Case Details
- Submit Verification Documents
Follow the instructions below for help logging in to your mybenefits.ny.gov online account.
Step 1 – Visit Mybenefits.ny.gov Account Website
To start the login process for your mybenefits.ny.gov account, visit the website at https://mybenefits.ny.gov/mybenefits/begin.
Once you are on the homepage you will need to locate the “LOG INTO YOUR ACCOUNT” button, which is usually at the bottom part of the site (see image below).
Click on the “LOG INTO YOUR ACCOUNT” button to proceed with the process, as shown below.
Step 2 – Enter username and Password
Next, you will be taken to a page where you will be required to enter your account username and password, as shown below.
Once you enter the correct username and password, click “Sign In” to continue, as shown by the image below.
Step 4 – View your account
If you entered the correct username and password, you will be automatically taken to your mybenefits.ny.gov account page, as shown below.
Once there, you can perform a variety of tasks as listed above, including:
- Start New Benefits Application
- Start New Recertification Application
- View Case Details or Report a Change
- Update myBenefits Account
Forgot Username and Password
If you do not remember your login credentials, follow the instructions below:
Forgot Username
If you do not remember your username, click on the “Forgot your Username” link, as shown below.
Next, You will then be taken to a page where you have to provide your:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Email Address
Enter the information requested, check the “I’m not a robot” box, and click “Email me the Username” to retrieve your username.
If you entered the correct information, your username will be emailed to you.
Next, check your email to retrieve your username.
Forgot Password
If you forgot your password, click on the “Forgot your Password” link as shown in the image above.
Next, You will then be taken to a page where you have to provide your username to retrieve your password.
Once you enter your username, check the “I’m not a robot” link and click “Continue” to proceed.
If you entered the correct username, you will be taken to a page where you will be provided options on how to reset your password.
Make a selection by checking the appropriate box and click “Continue” to proceed with the password reset process.
Follow the instructions provided next to reset your mybenefits.ny.gov account password.
How Much Will I Get in New York SNAP?
Use the chart below to find the Maximum SNAP Allotment Amount for your household size.
| Household Size | Maximum SNAP Benefit |
| 1 | $250 |
| 2 | $459 |
| 3 | $658 |
| 4 | $835 |
| 5 | $992 |
| 6 | $1,190 |
| 7 | $1,316 |
| 8 | $1,504 |
| Each additional member | (+$188) |
Buffalo, NY SNAP Office Contact Information
Here’s how to contact the Buffalo, NY SNAP Office regarding your SNAP and other benefits:
Erie County Department of Human Services
Problems logging into MyBenefits.ny.gov
1-844-891-1786
MyBenefits.ny.gov Helpline
1-800-342-3009
Lost/Stolen EBT Cards
1-888-328-6399
SNAP Call Center
716-858-7239
Medicaid Call Center
716-858-6244
Medicaid Long Term Care Eligibility
716-858-1903
Medicaid Managed Care
716-858-8666
Medical Transportation
1-800-651-7040
Fraud Hotline
716-858-1886
Senior Services/HEAP Hotline
716-858-7870
Frequently Asked Questions about Food Stamp in Buffalo
Check out our list of frequently asked questions related to the food stamps in Buffalo.
How long does it take to get SNAP in Erie County?
The SNAP office must make its decision of a person’s eligibility within 30 days of the date of submission of the application.
SNAP benefits will usually be issued from the original date of the application.
However, applicants with incomplete information will be given 10 days after the interview to provide more documents.
Once all the required documentation is received, the caseworker will process the case within 30 days of the application date.
Also, if required documentation is recieved within 30 days of the application date, SNAP eligibility will begin from the application date.
However, if required documentation is received between 31 and 60 days from the application date, the case will be opened.
If this happens, eligibility will begin from the date from which the documents were received.
Additionally, if you are eligible for SNAP, you will be notified of the amount of your SNAP benefits and the period of time for which they are certified, and when benefits will become available.
How Will I Receive my SNAP Benefits?
If you are approved for SNAP benefits, your monthly benefit amount will be deposited electronically onto an Electronic Transfer Benefit (EBT) card.
The New York EBT Card, also known as the Common Benefit Identification Card (CBIC), works like a debit card.
EBT cards can be used at a variety of stores throughout New York to purchase eligible food items.
For a complete list of the items you can purchase with your New York EBT Card, check out our post here.
Furthermore, certain categories of New York SNAP recipients can use their EBT benefits to purchase food at approved restaurants and fast food places.
This is under the New York Restaurant Meals program.
See our detailed post about the New York Restaurant Meals program and how to qualify.
Additionally, you can purchase groceries online using your New York SNAP EBT card, and have them delivered through the following grocery stores:
- ALDI
- Amazon
- BJs Wholesale Club
- Ferreira Foodtown
- Food Bazaar
- Foodtown-Freshtown
- Hannaford
- Manhattan Fruit Market
- My Foodtown
- Price Chopper Supermarkets
- ShopRite
- Stop & Shop
- Tops Market
- Walmart
As you can see from the list, you can purchase groceries online on Amazon. See our Amazon Grocery Online Guide here.
Can I get SNAP in Erie County if I am a College Student?
In order to get SNAP as a student in college or at least half-time, you must meet the income eligibility for SNAP and one of the following criteria:
- Be employed for an average of 20 hours per week and be paid for such employment or, if self-employed, be employed for an average of 20 hours per week and receive weekly earnings at least equal to the Federal minimum wage multiplied by 20 hours.
- Participate in a State or Federally financed work study program during the regular school year.
- Provide more than half the physical care for one or more dependent household members under the age of six or provide more than half the physical care of dependent household members who have reached the age of six but are under the age of 12 where adequate child care is not available.
- Enrolled full-time in an institution of higher education and is a single parent with responsibility for the care of a dependent child under age 12.
- Receive Unemployment Benefits (UIB).
Can I use my SNAP benefits at Farmers Markets in Buffalo?
Yes. Many farmers’ markets accept SNAP EBT in Buffalo and surrounding communities. See the list below:
Note: “FCC” is FreshConnect Checks that are available to SNAP EBT card users.
Broadway Farmers’ Market
999 Broadway Buffalo parking entrances on Gibson or Lombard St.
Mon-Sat 8am-5pm
Year-round
SNAP Accepted
FCC Accepted
Springville Farmers’ Market
Gentner Auction 341 W. Main St. (Rt. 39)
Wednesday 7 am-3 pm
Year-round
SNAP Accepted
FCC Accepted
Clinton Bailey Sat Farmers’ Market
1443-1517 Clinton St. Buffalo, corner of Clinton & Bailey Sts.
Saturday 4am-5pm, Nov-Apr 6am-12pm
Year-round
SNAP Accepted
FCC Accepted
http://www.clintonbaileymarket.com
Buffalo Food Stamps Summary
We hope our Buffalo Food Stamps Guide was helpful to you! If you found this article helpful, please share it using the “Share this” button below.
If you have more questions about the New York food stamp program or your SNAP EBT benefits, please let us know in the comments section below. We’re here to help!
Also, be sure to check out our other articles about New York SNAP and New York EBT, including:
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Does Wegmans take SNAP EBT in New York?
New York P-EBT Extension for 2021
How to Get a Free Phone With New York Food Stamps
Free Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaways in NYC
What Expenses are deducted for SNAP Benefits?
SNAP Benefits in Rochester, NY