Food Stamps Office in Erie County, NY

If you live in Erie County, New York, and are trying to locate a SNAP (Food Stamps) office, we can help. You can visit one of the Food Stamps Offices in Erie County, NY (Department of Social Services) to get help with the following:

  • Apply for New York Public Assistance benefits in person
  • Check the Status of a New York Benefits Application
  • Renew/recertify your benefits
  • Go for a Benefits Interview Appointment
  • Order a Replacement EBT Card
  • Get help with your New York Public Assistance benefits

Erie County SNAP offices are run by the Department of Social Services.

We have provided the full list of Food Stamps Office in Erie County, NY below.

For each of the Erie County SNAP offices listed below, we have included the address and phone number.

Furthermore, we have provided below a list of frequently asked questions that New York SNAP applicants call their local SNAP offices for.

Read through the questions and see if you can save yourself time by getting your question answered here.

That way, you don’t have to visit or call your New York SNAP office for help.

If you would rather apply for SNAP online, see our post on Food Stamps Eligibility in New York.

To locate a SNAP Food Stamps Office in Erie County near you, keep reading below.

"Food Stamps Office in Erie County NY"

Food Stamps Office in Erie County, NY

Below is a list of all SNAP office locations in Erie County, New York.

Erie County Department of Social Services

158 Pearl Street,
Rath Building, 3rd Floor,
Buffalo, NY 14202

Phone Number for Erie County DSS (Food Stamps Office)

Here’s the phone number to call to reach the food stamps office (DSS Office):

Call Center: (716) 858-7239

Language Line: (1-855-938-0592)

Fax: (716) 858-6834

New York SNAP FAQs

Here are the most frequently asked questions about New York SNAP (Food Stamps):

What documents will I need to provide to Apply for New York SNAP?

Here are the documents usually required to get New York SNAP:

  • A copy of your ID
  • Proof of any income from the last 30 days
  • Proof of student status (for college students)

In addition, immigrants may also be asked to provide:

  • A copy of your green card
  • A copy of your most recent paperwork for a U Visa, T Visa, asylum, refugee or parolee status, or a Violence Against Women Act petition
  • Naturalized U.S. citizens may be asked to provide a copy of their U.S. passport or naturalization documents.

However, if you are applying only for other people in your household, you do not have to provide proof of your immigration status.

Furthermore, your New York SNAP benefit amount may be increased if you can provide proof of:

  • Housing expenses
  • Child support paid
  • Child/dependent care paid
  • Medical expenses if you are 60+ or disabled

What is the Income Limit for New York SNAP?

Here are the SNAP income limits for New York for 2022-2023 grouped by household types.

SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2023
Effective October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023
Household SizeThe Maximum Gross Monthly Income for Households with an Elderly or Disabled Member and Households with Dependent Care Expenses (200% of FPL)Maximum Gross Monthly Income for Households with earned income – no elderly or disabled member (150% of FPL)Maximum Gross Monthly Income for Households without Earned Income (no elderly or disabled member – (130% of FPL)Monthly Net Income (100% of FPL)
1$2,265$1,699$1,473$1,133
2$3,052$2,289$1,984$1,526
3$3,839$2,879$2,495$1,920
4$4,625$3,469$3,007$2,313
5$5,412$4,059$3,518$2,706
6$6,199$4,649$4,029$3,100
7$6,985$5,239$4,541$3,493
8$7,772$5,829$5,052$3,886
Each Additional Household Member: Add$787$590$512$394

How do I Apply for New York Food Stamps?

There are four ways you can apply for SNAP in New York:

1. Apply Online

Apply for New York food stamps online through the mybenefits.ny.gov website.

In addition, you can check your eligibility for more than 20 state programs on the myBenefits NY website.

Select your county of residence from the dropdown menu and you will be taken to the page to apply.

2. Apply Over the Phone

To apply over the phone, Erie County Department of Social Services at (716) 858-7239
They are open Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM.

3. Print Out the Application and Mail/Fax it In.

You can download the application and fill it out. 

4. Apply in Person

You can apply in person at an Erie County Department of Social Services office location listed above.

How long will it take to get New York food stamps?

For most households, it takes about 30 days to get New York food stamps from the time of application.
However, if you are eligible for expedited processing of your application, you will receive your SNAP benefits in as little as 5 days.
After you submit your SNAP application and are interviewed, you will receive a written decision in the mail.
If you are approved, benefits should start as of the date you filed your application.
Upon approval, you will also receive an Electronic Benefits Card (New York EBT Card) and your benefits will be automatically added to the card each month.

How do I renew my New York Food Stamps?

If you are currently on SNAP benefits in New York State and do not also get Cash Assistance benefits, you can renew (re-certify) your SNAP benefit without visiting a Department of Social Services (DSS) office.

Here’s how the process works:

Two months prior to the end of the re-certification period, you will receive a packet in the mail from the DSS that includes a SNAP application and a scheduled interview appointment on page 1.

There are three important steps you  have to follow to complete the re-certification process:

Step 1

You must submit your re-certification application before you can be interviewed on the scheduled interview appointment date.

You can submit your SNAP Re-certification application by mail, online (at www.myBenefits.ny.gov), by fax, or in person at 158 Pearl Street, Buffalo NY 14202.

Step 2

After you submit your re-certification application, you must be interviewed.

However, if you submit your application AFTER the scheduled interview appointment on page one of your re-certification packet, then it is YOUR responsibility to re-schedule your interview appointment before the end of your re-certification period.

Step 3

After your interview, the DSS may ask you to submit additional documents related to your income or circumstances.

If you are asked to provide additional documents, you may submit them by mail, by fax, in person at 158 Pearl Street, or by using the NYDocSubmit app.

Download the NYDocSubmit app from the Apple or Google Play store.

What are the Work Requirements for New York Food Stamps?

In general, New York SNAP applicants must meet work requirements to be eligible for benefits.

These work requirements include:

  • Registering for work;
  • Not voluntarily quitting a job or reducing hours;
  • Taking a job if offered; and
  • Participating in employment and training programs, if assigned by the DHHS.

Failure to comply with these requirements can result in disqualification from the SNAP program.

Additional Requirements for ABAWDs

In addition, able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) are required to work or participate in a work program for at least 20 hours per week in order to receive SNAP benefits for more than 3 months in a 36-month period.

Individuals are exempt from the ABAWD time limit if they are:

  • Under 18 years of age, or 50 years of age or older.
  • A full-time caretaker of an incapacitated person.
  • A pregnant woman.
  • Physically or mentally unable to work at least 80 hours a month.
  • Determined to be unable to work due to substance abuse.
  • A recipient of Veterans Affairs disability compensation.
  • A recipient of disability benefits from a public or private source, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or NYS disability benefits.
  • An adult in a SNAP household with a child under 18 years of age.
  • A recipient or pending receipt of Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB).
  • A student enrolled in any recognized school, job skills training, or institution of higher education at least half-time and meeting the student eligibility criteria to receive SNAP.
  • An applicant for SNAP benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) jointly or in receipt of SSI.
  • Employed or self-employed and working at least 30 hours per week or receiving weekly earnings at least equal to the federal minimum wage times 30 (currently $217.50 per week).

ABAWDs Requirement Suspension

New York State has received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a statewide waiver of the federal Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) time limit through September 30, 2023.

Therefore, ABAWDs residing in all areas of New York State are not subject to the ABAWD requirements through September 30, 2023.

Food Stamps Office in Erie County NY Summary

We hope this post on SNAP Food Stamps Center in Erie County NY was helpful.

If you have further questions about the New York SNAP or New York EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below.

Be sure to check out our other articles about New York SNAP and New York EBT, including:

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