What Are Food Stamps?

Food stamps, also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), are a critical anti-poverty support for low-income families in the United States. For over 50 years, the federal government has provided food stamps to help families meet their basic needs and put food on their tables. SNAP benefits are available to eligible households that meet certain income and other criteria, and can be used at authorized retailers to purchase eligible food items.

How Food Stamps Work

The SNAP program is a federal program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). SNAP benefits are available in the form of an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Eligible households receive monthly SNAP benefits, deposited on an EBT account. This electronic card works much like a debit card, allowing households to purchase eligible food items from authorized retailers.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for SNAP benefits, interested households must meet certain income and asset limits. Applicants must either have a low income or be enrolled in other public assistance programs such as the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Additionally, SNAP applicants must be US citizens or eligible non-citizens and be able to demonstrate that they are living in the US legally.

Food stamps are an important and a beneficial program for low-income households to access. Support from SNAP contributes to improved food and nutrition security for those who might otherwise struggle to put food on their tables and live in food insecurity.