Benefit Programs & Required Documents

    • 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).

  • What you need:
    Bank Accounts
    - 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)

    - Power of attorney papers

    - Guardianship order

    Loans and gifts (including payments made to you)

    - 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.

  • What you need:

    • Utility Bills (Electricity, gas, water, internet, phone, trash)

    • Medical Bills (receipts or bills from doctors, hospitals, or drug stores.)

  • Medical Costs (Last 3 Months)

    - 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.

  • What you need:

    - Last 30-day Utility bills: Electricity (required) and/or Gas and Propane (if any)

  • What you need:

    - Utility bills (Electricity, water, gas, phone, internet, trash)

    - Medical bills or receipts from doctors, hospitals, or drug stores.

    - Insurance Policies

    - Documentation showing the current value of any life, burial, or health insurance policies.

    Stocks, Bonds, Trusts, or Annuities

    - Statements or certificates showing the value of these assets.

    Loans and Gifts (Including Bill Payments Made for You)

    - Loan agreements or a statement from the person paying your bills. The statement must include their name, address, phone number, and signature.

  • What you need:

    Proof of Income (Last 30 Days)

    - 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

  • What you need:

    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

    If applicable, provide proof of education or training.

    If Attending College or Community College

    - Documentation showing your current semester hours.

    - An unofficial transcript showing your cumulative total hours.

  • 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.