Citizenship

• All Texas SNAP applicants must provide a Social Security card or statement from the Social Security Administration for each member of the household that will receive food stamps. Citizens do not have to prove citizenship with a birth certificate as long as they have a Social Security card. Qualified aliens must provide an alien registration card to receive benefits. In addition, applicants must provide a valid driver's license or ID card to show residency in the state of Texas.
  
  

Income

• To make sure that residents fall within income guidelines for the Texas food stamp program, the state requires an applicant to submit copies of pay stubs, checks or a statement from her employer outlining her income. If an applicant earns a living via self-employment, he must provide records of income earned.
  
  

Cash

• The Texas food stamp program limits most applicants to no more than $2,000 in liquid assets in a checking or savings account. Many types of investments count towards this income limit, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds and retirement plans that can be liquidated into cash. Residents must submit copies of recent bank statements for every account that the household owns and records of current investments.
  
  

Shelter

• The Texas HHSC allows an applicant to deduct shelter expenses if the applicant pays more than 50 percent of his income on rent or mortgage, property tax and utilities. Residents must provide copies of these payments if these expenses put them underneath SNAP income limits.
  
  

Dependent Care

• Federal food stamp guidelines allow the disabled and individuals aged 60 or over to deduct medical expenses over $35 a month from their gross income calculations. Households taking care of a dependent member can deduct dependent care expenses. Residents must provide documentation of medical expenses and care expenses with their Texas SNAP applications. Pregnant women qualify for food stamps but must provide medical records proving pregnancy. Texas residents who pay child support may deduct child maintenance payments from gross income limits if they provide the HHSC with a court order mandating payments and proof of paid child support monies.