The claim: Food stamp recipients can get a free passport

A July 19 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) claims people receiving certain public benefits can get a necessary international travel document at no cost.

“If you get foodstamps you can get your passport for free!” reads the post.

It was shared nearly 4,000 times in two days. Other versions of the claim, some of which said Medicaid recipients are also eligible, were shared more than a thousand additional times.

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Our rating: False

Receiving public assistance from programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (often referred to as food stamps) or Medicaid does not exempt an applicant from paying passport fees. Only a few circumstances, such as U.S. employees working abroad for official duties, allow for a fee waiver.

Receiving public assistance does not qualify an applicant for a free passport or replacement

The State Department told USA TODAY the claim is false.

Chapter 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations outlines the fee schedule for passport and citizenship services.

“These fees are required by U.S. law with limited exceptions as set forth in the schedule,” said Rachel Arndt, deputy assistant secretary for passport services.

Those exceptions include U.S. employees and their immediate families going abroad for official duties or the immediate family of a deceased service member going out of the country...

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