Food Stamps: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Increasingly a very large program—some 45 million Americans (about 20 million households) received assistance in Averaged about 31 million a month in Currently about one in eight Americans receive food stamps. One in four children U.S. citizens and some legal aliens are eligible—mostly children and elderly. Open to almost all low-income families as long as they are citizens or in some cases legal aliens. Households may have no more than $2000 in assets; $3000 if a member of the household is elderly or disabled.

Homes are exempt and vehicle rules vary by state. The gross income of most households must be 130% or less of the poverty guidelines ($22,113 plus 30% or $28,747 for a family of 4 with two children in 2010). Net income must be below poverty line for family. Able-bodied must meet work requirements. Must have social security number.

Snap Recipients and Costs

Food Stamp Enrollment

Historically Food Stamp Recipients Have Had No Earned Income About 70% of households that received food stamps in 2010 had no earned income. 21% received Supplemental Security Income 21.4% received Social Security 8% received TANF 20% had no cash income from any source In recent years, a larger percentage of food stamp households have included one or more employed adults.

Average value of benefit was about $294 per household per month in Generally FS can only be used to purchase food. No alcohol, tobacco, soap, paper products, no medicine, no food to be eaten in stores, no hot food. Benefits are credited monthly to an EBT card—a debit card.

Benefits are Modest

All benefits received are credited to the EBT—including food stamps, TANF, veteran benefits, SSI. In Texas it is called the Long Star Card.

SNAP currently costs about $75 billion. SNAP and other nutrition programs have make severe hunger increasing rare in America.

Food Insecurity