Is my mother eligible for SNAP?
If she lives by herself, my guess would be that she qualifies as a household of one. Either way, her monthly income is below the threshold, so she should be eligible. Per the linked website The only way to determine if your household is eligible for SNAP benefits is to apply. I'd say it's worth a try.
An important risk is that the government may decide to change the rules. For example, prior to 2011, over the counter drugs like aspirin, Tylenol, Nyquil, etc. were eligible expenses. You could use your HSA money to buy as much as you wanted. Beginning in 2011, those rules changed. Now, if you want to spend your HSA money on Tylenol, you need a prescription for it. The value of HSA dollars was diminished in the sense that the universe of eligible expenses was diminished. No one knows what the HSA rules will be in the future. What will be eligible expenses? Who will be eligible providers? What kind of compliance paperwork will be required? What kind of fees will be imposed? Personally, I'm a great believer in HSAs. I've saved in one for years. But remember that the government makes the rules regarding their use. They've changed the rules to the detriment of HSA owners at least once; I won't be surprised if it continues. For the record, I am the original question-asker and I'm reporting back to say that the approach described in the accepted answer did not work. I am adding a new answer, rather than commenting on the accepted answer, because of the length of explanation required. I applied for an ITIN by filing a W-7 with all appropriate documentation, including a birth certificate, death certificate, and consular recognition of birth abroad (i.e., proof of U.S. citizenship). The IRS rejected the application, saying that people who are eligible for SSNs can't have ITINs. That placed me in an untenable situation, because even though the IRS said she was eligible for an SSN, the Social Security Administration said they never issue SSNs to dead people as a matter of policy.  So: Insult was added to injury. It is true that I should have applied for an SSN while she was alive, in which case it would have been a simple matter. I just paid the extra tax that was due because of her not counting as a dependent during the years for which I was filing. The amount was not worth fighting over further, or renouncing my U.S. citizenship.  Moral of story: Live, in all ways, as if there is no guarantee your children will be alive tomorrow. Because there is no such guarantee. That is where I think Walmart comes in to buy up a business like this. With their network of stores and the insane buying power they have the can push a good solid quality that the middle class American wants and do it very cheaply. I feel this will be their main combat against Amazon buying whole foods. Currently Walmart makes more on grocery sales than anything else as a hole and will continue to do so because of what and how they are doing it. Walmart is sneaky as fuck when it comes to what they can do and how they can do it. Even Walmart buying up Advanced Auto Parts is a solid counter move to Amazon buying Whole Foods...the next step is buying a Blue Apron type business... and with how Blue Apron is doing financially and given their name they are entering buy off territory.  In my humble albeit non pro status in the stock market my 3 buys are Snap Chat, GoPro, and Walmart for long term retire and never have to worry about money again companies. I am by no means an expert but I have never come close to losing money in the stock market and do a good amount of research before I invest. Snapchat is my top 1 tbh. Sorry for going on a tangent lol Yeah, so people would buy it high.  I'm short SNAP. I said it so suckers would buy. And then my options would be worth more when earnings come and they tank.  The first tank came at earning just a week ago. Next earning it will tank more. Does the above mean I will not be able to send money to myself or my mother Yes that is right. PayPal will only be used for small trades. The credits into PayPal cannot be used to purchase anything, and will have to be credited back to the linked Bank Account. This is to ensure right reporting and taxes are being paid. You could use alternative Bank channels for getting funds. I'm not an expert, just giving my opinion. If you are an owner of a bank account that does not make you liable for their debts unless also cosign on their loans. I would in this join custody of the if only to assist your parents in financial decision making. "Fitting a description? Stop it. That's a gut feeling you have no evidence of.  Let's talk numbers.   She took home $76 a day from Popeyes without taxes. She currently only has one job, so let's operate on that.  She takes home $313 after taxes a week coming to $1278 per month.  She has two sons. Let's say she has a two bedroom apartment. The medium price for that in Missouri is $883. The article mentioned her son's were two bus rides away. She can't drive because she can't afford insurance. A monthly bus pass for one person in Kansas City is $50. After Taxes, Rent, and transportation she has $345. According to USDA, her two sons would need $348 for a month ""thrifty"" (lowest income) level food budget because they're 14 and 15. She's already broke after Food, Rent, and Transportation.   We haven't discussed utility or phone bills. Her children's transportation,Internet service, Clothing,Heat, or School supplies.   Are their larger issues at play that allow this to happen? Absolutely. However,  the minimum wage used to keep a family of three out of poverty. She's the head of a family of three and she's homeless. Her spending habits could've been better when she had two jobs. However, we don't know those, Her debt,  the percentage of her money that goes to health care or any ailments her children might have, but we do know she suffers from high blood pressure. Which the average black patient spends $887 a year on hypertension medication.   You're also completely disregarding that poor people can't do things in Bulk. It's more sensible to buy something that cost 0.15 per unit as opposed to 0.25 per unit. However, if you can't afford the bulk item, you're stuck buying the one with less value.   Her house was condemned. She had to move. Signing a lease usually requires The First Month, Last month, and security deposit. If we're operating on the median rent, we're asking her to come up with close to 2700 dollars in a day.   Do I think we should have a nation $15.00 Minimum wage? no. Do I think minimum wage should be based on average cost of living and median housing in states/large cities? Yes.  Sources:   https://www.cnpp.usda.gov/sites/default/files/usda_food_plans_cost_of_food/CostofFoodJul2014.pdf  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/most-americans-cant-handle-a-500-surprise-bill/  http://piperreport.com/blog/2013/05/13/health-care-spending-hypertension-cost-high-blood-pressure/  http://store.kcata.org/31daypass.php  /u/philosoraptor1000 it's not just personal responsibility. The cost of living has skyrocketed. The minimum wage hasn't. Your sarcasm is trash too.   /u/thewaywardsaint This sub has become a joke because users like you spew trash, condescending, opinions instead of voicing your opinion using facts, concepts and numbers." Can she send money to me in India through their NRI account? She can transfer the money to her NRE account and then to your Savings Account. Alternatively she can also transfer money directly to your savings account. There is no tax for this transaction in India as it is gift and exempt under gift tax act. If the amounts are large [run in quite a few tens of lacs], have some paperwork showing this as Gift. You can transfer this to son or doing anything you like with it.