Revision 13-4; Effective October 1, 2013

B-461 Communal Dining or Meal Delivery Services

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

SNAP

Eligible individuals and their spouses may use SNAP benefits to purchase prepared meals through communal dining or meal delivery services authorized by FNS.

To be eligible, a household member must:

  • be age 60 or older;
  • be housebound;
  • have a physical disability;
  • have a disability to the extent the member is unable to adequately prepare all meals; or
  • be receiving SSI.

B-462 Prepared Meals for Homeless

Revision 12-2; Effective April 1, 2012

SNAP

Homeless individuals may use SNAP benefits to purchase prepared meals from meal providers authorized by FNS.

B-463 Staff Responsibilities

Revision 21-2; Effective April 1, 2021

SNAP

The Lone Star Card does not identify people qualifying for communal dining, meal delivery, or homeless people eligible for prepared meals. Use Form H1175, EBT Change Request, to send the primary cardholder (PCH) record and indicate in the endorsement box of Form H1175 either:

  • Communal dining
  • Meal delivery
  • Homeless
  • Every service

B-464 EBT Coordinator Responsibilities

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

SNAP

If a meal-provider representative contacts HHSC about certification procedures, the advisor should refer the meal-provider representative to the EBT coordinator to approve these providers.

The EBT coordinator must ensure through discussion with the meal provider that the establishment:

  • provides meals to homeless people, and
  • is a public or private nonprofit organization as defined by IRS. HHSC may require the provider to present documentation from IRS to verify nonprofit status under §501(c)(3) of IRS regulations.

If the meal provider meets these requirements, the EBT coordinator will:

  • obtain the meal-provider representative's signature on Form H1832, Affidavit for Meal Providers to the Homeless; and
  • refer the provider to USDA, with the original, signed Form H1832, to apply for authorization as a retailer.

B-465 Matrix of Prepared Meals, Services, Households and Codes

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

SNAP

Prepared Meals

SNAP RecipientCommunal Dining (Public or Nonprofit Private)Meal DeliveryHomeless Meal Provider (Public or Nonprofit Private) 
Age 60 or older, not homelessXXXX  
SSI recipient who is under age 60, not homelessXXXX  
Under age 60, not an SSI recipient, housebound, a person with physical disabilities, or has disabilities to the extent they are unable to adequately prepare own meals XX  
Homeless only  XX 
Homeless age 60 or olderXXXXXX 
Homeless SSI recipient who is under age 60XXXXXX 
Endorsement status allowed to purchase from meal providerCodes C,ECodes C,M,ECodes H,E 

Codes:

C – SSI/elderly member authorized to purchase prepared meals from communal dining facilities or meal delivery services.

E – Homeless and either elderly or SSI household authorized to purchase from every service (communal dining, meal delivery services or homeless meal providers).

H – Homeless household authorized to purchase from homeless meal provider.

M – Housebound or a member with a disability authorized to purchase from meal delivery service.