BENEFIT PROGRAMS & REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
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Proof of Identity
Accepted forms: current driver’s license, Department of Public Safety (DPS) ID card, or US Passport.
If someone is acting on your behalf (an authorized representative), they will also need to provide their own proof of identity.
Immigration Status (if applicable)
Accepted forms: Resident card (I-551), arrival/departure form (I-94), or documentation from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Note: Please provide copies of both the front and back of these documents.
Veterans Benefits, Worker’s Compensation, or Unemployment
What you’ll need: Award letter or recent pay stubs.
Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Pension Benefits
What you’ll need: Award letter or recent pay stubs.
Proof of Income
Last 3 pay stubs/paychecks
A statement from your employer
If self-employed, your income records.
Proof of Texas Residency
Accepted forms: Utility bill, driver’s license, Texas DPS ID, rent receipt or a letter from your landlord (Note: the landlord cannot be a relative).
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Bank Accounts
What you’ll need: The most recent statement for all bank accounts.
Rent or Mortgage costs
A copy of your lease, recent checks, check stubs, or a statement from your mortgage bank or landlord.
Renters also need to provide the landlord’s name, address, and phone number.
Legal representative (if applicable)
What you’ll need:
Power of attorney papers
Guardianship order
Court order or similar legal documents showing someone has the right to act on your behalf.
Loans and gifts (including payments made to you)
What you’ll need: Loan agreements or a statement from the person giving you money or paying your bills. The statement must include their name, address, phone number, and signature.
Medical Costs (for people over 60 or disabled)
Bills, receipts, or statements from healthcare providers (such as doctors, hospitals, pharmacies) showing current and expected medical costs.
Dependent care expenses
Receipts, canceled checks, or a signed statement from the person you pay for care.
The statement must include when and how much you pay.
Military service (if applicable)
Current Military ID (Form DD-2)
Military orders
Separation papers (Form DD-214).
Child Support Payments You Make (if applicable)
Court papers showing what you must pay for child support, such as a divorce decree, court order, or district clerk record.
Child Support Payments You Receive (if applicable)
A district clerk record or a letter from the parent who pays support, showing how much is paid, how often, and the usual payment date.
The letter must include the paying parent’s name, address, phone number, and signature.
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Utility Bills (Electricity, gas, water, internet, phone, trash)
Medical Bills (receipts or bills from doctors, hospitals, or drug stores.)
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Medical Costs (Last 3 Months)
What you’ll need: Bills or statements from healthcare providers, such as doctors, hospitals, or pharmacies, for services from the past 3 months.
Important: Only provide bills for services you haven’t paid for yet.
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Last 30-day Utility bills: Electricity (required) and/or Gas and Propane (if any)
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Utility bills (Electricity, water, gas, phone, internet, trash)
Medical Bills
Accepted forms: Bills or receipts from doctors, hospitals, or drug stores.
Insurance Policies
What you’ll need: Documentation showing the current value of any life, burial, or health insurance policies.
Stocks, Bonds, Trusts, or Annuities
What you’ll need: Statements or certificates showing the value of these assets.
Loans and Gifts (Including Bill Payments Made for You)
What you’ll need: Loan agreements or a statement from the person paying your bills. The statement must include their name, address, phone number, and signature.
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Proof of Income (Last 30 Days)
What you’ll need: Pay stubs or self-employment records from the previous 30 days.
Your child is automatically eligible if you can provide:
SNAP or TANF Benefit Award Letter
Lone Star Card
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Parent's Citizenship or Immigration Status
Not required for eligibility.
Work and/or School Requirements
For a single-parent household: You must be working and/or attending school for at least 25 hours per week.
For a two-parent household: Both parents must work and/or attend school for a combined 50 hours per week.
Education/Training Documentation
What you’ll need: If applicable, provide proof of education or training.
4. If Attending College or Community College
What you’ll need:
Documentation showing your current semester hours.
An unofficial transcript showing your cumulative total hours.
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If you are qualifying because of eligibility in a qualified program, you must provide proof of program participation with your application, such as:
Copy of a letter from a government agency showing eligibility for the qualified benefit
Copy of Medicaid card for the eligible individual
Federal Public Housing rental agreement
A letter from the school or school district verifying your participation in the National School Lunch Program - Free Lunch Program
Note: A Lone Star card is not an eligible document.