An Iowa man is taking legal action after the state repeatedly denied him SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps, citing his past arrest record.
The man, who has not been publicly named in court documents, has filed a lawsuit in Polk County District Court claiming the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) acted unlawfully by using his arrest history to reject his applications for emergency food assistance.
According to the court filing, the man applied for SNAP benefits multiple times since 2022, each time citing food insecurity and financial struggles.
However, he says his applications were consistently denied after he failed to attend interviews requested by the department. These interviews were scheduled during the times he was in jail or dealing with criminal cases, including charges related to trespassing and disorderly conduct.
The Iowa HHS has a rule that requires applicants to attend interviews to be approved for SNAP. But the lawsuit argues that the state should have considered the man’s circumstances and allowed him to reschedule or submit documentation explaining his absence. He believes the state failed to give him a fair chance, even though federal SNAP rules allow some flexibility.
In his lawsuit, the man claims the department’s actions violated his right to due process and fair treatment. He also argues that being in jail does not automatically disqualify someone from applying for or receiving food assistance, especially when they are not convicted and still face charges.
His legal team says that this case could impact how Iowa handles emergency food assistance for low-income individuals with legal issues.
The man’s attorney stated that the goal of the lawsuit is to highlight how the system can be unfair to people who are already struggling, especially those who are in and out of jail for non-violent offenses.
According to the lawsuit, the man has been homeless at times, with no consistent source of income. He has reportedly gone days without food and depends on community organizations for meals.
Despite this, his repeated requests for emergency SNAP assistance were denied, leaving him with limited options for survival.
Federal guidelines for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) give states the authority to implement certain rules, but they also require fair procedures for applicants.
The lawsuit argues that Iowa’s rigid interview requirements and failure to consider individual situations amount to unnecessary barriers for people who are in serious need of help.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has not yet responded to the lawsuit. If the court rules in favor of the man, it may force the agency to revise how it handles SNAP applications from people who are temporarily incarcerated or dealing with legal troubles.
This case also raises broader concerns about how public assistance programs treat individuals with criminal records. Advocates argue that food insecurity should be addressed regardless of someone’s arrest history, especially if they are not serving a prison sentence or have not been convicted.
Many community advocates in Iowa have spoken out in support of the lawsuit, saying that it shines a light on a serious gap in the safety net system.
They argue that people who are in and out of jail are often the most vulnerable and need basic support like food assistance to avoid falling deeper into poverty or committing more crimes to survive.
As the legal case moves forward, it is expected to bring more attention to how Iowa and other states manage emergency food assistance applications from individuals with complicated legal backgrounds. For now, the man who filed the lawsuit says he is simply hoping to get a fair hearing and finally receive the help he has long been denied.