To apply for food stamps in Delaware, submit an application to the Division of Social Services through the state’s online ASSIST portal, by mail, or in person at a local office. The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services runs SNAP, and most applicants receive a decision within 30 days of the date the state receives the application.
Three Ways to Submit Your Application
All three methods are treated equally. Use whichever fits your situation.
Online Through ASSIST
The fastest route is the Delaware ASSIST portal at assist.dhss.delaware.gov.1Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. ASSIST – Delaware Create an account, complete the electronic application, and submit it directly. You can upload supporting documents through the portal later, which avoids mailing or faxing paperwork.
By Mail
Download and print Form 100 from the DHSS website, fill it out, and mail it to the Division of Social Services at P.O. Box 1901, New Castle, Delaware 19720.2Delaware Health and Social Services. Application for Food Benefits, Cash, Medical, and Child Care Assistance Keep a copy of everything you send.
In Person
Walk into any Division of Social Services office and hand-deliver your application. Offices have drop boxes for after-hours submissions. Staff can also help you complete the application on the spot.
What You Need to Gather First
You don’t have to wait until you have everything to apply. The 30-day processing clock starts when the state receives your application, not when your file is complete, so submit first and send verification as it comes in. That said, having these in hand speeds things up:
- Social Security numbers for every household member applying, or document numbers for legal immigrants
- Proof of identity such as a driver’s license, state ID, or birth certificate
- Proof of Delaware residency like a lease, utility bill, or piece of mail showing your address
- Income records from the past 30 days: pay stubs, W-2 forms, or benefit letters for child support, Social Security, or unemployment
- Shelter costs: rent or mortgage amount, property taxes, and homeowner’s insurance
- Utility bills for heating, cooling, electricity, or phone service
If anyone in your household is 60 or older or has a disability, bring documentation of out-of-pocket medical expenses. SNAP allows a deduction for unreimbursed medical costs above $35 per month, which can meaningfully increase your benefit.3Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Medical Expenses Handbook
Whether You’ll Qualify
Delaware uses broad-based categorical eligibility, which does two useful things for applicants. First, the gross income limit is set at 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, higher than the federal baseline. Second, there is no asset or resource test for most households.4Food and Nutrition Service. Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility Savings and vehicles don’t disqualify you.
For 2026, the monthly gross income limits at 200% of the Federal Poverty Level are:5Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
- 1 person: $2,660
- 2 people: $3,607
- 3 people: $4,553
- 4 people: $5,500
- 5 people: $6,447
- 6 people: $7,393
Add roughly $947 per month for each additional person. Once you clear the gross income test, the Division of Social Services calculates your net income by subtracting allowable deductions for shelter, dependent care, and certain medical expenses. Net income determines both final eligibility and your monthly benefit amount.
Who Counts as Your Household
Your SNAP household includes everyone who lives with you and shares meals. Spouses living together are always counted as one household, and children age 21 or younger living with a parent are automatically included even if they buy or prepare food separately.6Legal Information Institute. Delaware Administrative Code 9000-9013 – Household Concept Unrelated roommates who purchase and cook food independently can apply as separate households.
Citizenship and Immigration Status
U.S. citizens and certain categories of non-citizens qualify. Refugees, asylees, and victims of trafficking are generally eligible immediately. Lawful permanent residents can qualify after living in the United States for five years, though children under 18, people with disabilities, and those with 40 qualifying work quarters skip the waiting period. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 made changes to non-citizen eligibility rules that USDA is still implementing, so applicants with immigration-related questions should contact the Division of Social Services for current guidance.7Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Eligibility
Work Requirements
All non-exempt adults must register for work and accept suitable employment if offered. A stricter rule applies to able-bodied adults without dependents. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, adults ages 18 through 64 without dependents under 14 must work or participate in a qualifying program at least 80 hours per month to keep SNAP beyond three months in any three-year period.8Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 – ABAWD Exceptions Qualifying activities include paid employment, volunteer work, job training, and workfare. If you fall into this category, track your hours carefully; this is where most benefit losses happen.
If You’re a College Student
Students enrolled at least half-time in college or a vocational school must meet at least one federal exemption to qualify. The most common exemption is working 20 or more hours per week. Others include federal or state work-study participation, caring for a young child, receiving TANF, or having a disability that prevents employment.9Federal Student Aid. SNAP Benefits for Eligible Students Students under 18 or over 49 are also exempt. If you’re enrolled less than half-time, the student rules don’t apply and you only need to meet the standard eligibility criteria.
What Happens After You Apply
Once the state receives your application, a caseworker schedules a mandatory interview. It’s almost always done by phone, though you can request an in-person meeting. The interview covers the information on your application, confirms your household situation, and identifies missing documents. Federal law gives the state 30 days from receipt to issue a decision.10Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Application Processing Timeliness
If your caseworker needs more verification, you’ll get a written notice listing exactly what’s required. Upload those documents through ASSIST or mail them in. Missing the verification deadline can result in a denial, so respond promptly.
Faster Processing in Seven Days
Some households qualify for benefits within seven calendar days. You’re entitled to this expedited timeline if your household has less than $150 in monthly gross income and no more than $100 in liquid resources, or if your combined monthly income and liquid resources are less than your monthly rent or mortgage plus utilities.11eCFR. 7 CFR 273.2 – Office Operations and Application Processing Destitute migrant and seasonal farmworkers who meet the liquid resource limit also qualify. If you think you’re eligible, say so when you apply so your case gets flagged.
How Much You’ll Receive
Your monthly benefit depends on household size, income, and deductions. The maximum monthly amounts for federal fiscal year 2026 (October 2025 through September 2026) are:
- 1 person: $298
- 2 people: $546
- 3 people: $785
- 4 people: $994
- 5 people: $1,183
- 6 people: $1,421
- 7 people: $1,571
- 8 people: $1,789
Each additional person adds $218. Most households receive less than the maximum because benefits decrease as net income rises. The minimum benefit for one- and two-person households is typically around $23 per month.
Keeping Your Benefits Active
After approval, you’ll get a Delaware EBT card in the mail in a plain envelope. Call the automated service line printed on the card to set your four-digit PIN. The card works like a debit card at any authorized retailer displaying the SNAP or EBT logo. Benefits deposit on a staggered schedule across 22 days each month based on the first letter of your last name, and anything you don’t spend rolls over.
You must report significant changes in income, household size, or living arrangements to the Division of Social Services. Most Delaware SNAP households are assigned a 12-month certification period with an interim report due in the sixth month.12Legal Information Institute. Delaware Administrative Code 9000-9068 – Certification Periods Households where all members are elderly or disabled with no earned income may receive a 24-month period, with an interim report at 12 months. When your certification period ends, benefits stop until you complete a new application, attend a follow-up interview, and provide updated verification.
One warning about the card itself: federal authorization to replace SNAP benefits lost to electronic theft expired and was not renewed beyond December 20, 2024.13Food and Nutrition Service. Addressing Stolen SNAP Benefits If someone drains your card through skimming or fraud, the state currently has no mechanism to reimburse you. Protect your PIN the way you would a debit card PIN, and check your balance regularly.
If You’re Denied or Your Benefits Are Reduced
You have the right to request a fair hearing. SNAP hearing requests can be made orally or in writing, and the Division of Social Services must help you put an oral request into writing if needed.14Delaware Health and Social Services. Delaware Social Services Manual – 5000 Fair Hearing Practice and Procedures You must file within 90 days of the effective date of the action you’re disputing.
If you file during the advance notice period before a reduction or termination takes effect, your benefits generally continue at the current level until a decision is made. If you wait until after the change takes effect, benefits are not restored while the hearing is pending. A hearing officer must issue a decision within 60 days of your request. You can also dispute your current benefit level at any point during your certification period, not just in response to a specific notice.