The notorious food stamps: what you need to know about food stamps in the USA

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, is the largest federal nutrition program. As of 2021, 41,5 million Americans were enrolled in the SNAP program, which provides benefits to low-income individuals and families. Thanks to it, they can buy appropriate food in the retail grocery stores participating in the project. What you need to know, what products and benefits you can get under this program, the publication told Go Banking Rates.

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What is the difference between SNAP and food stamps

SNAP and food stamps are the same thing. SNAP was formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, or simply food stamps, because of the coupon books people used to make purchases. Today, coupons have been replaced by electronic cards, which look just like debit cards and are accepted at most grocery stores and many other grocery retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Amazon.

Who is eligible for SNAP

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) establishes eligibility requirements by determining the amount of a family's SNAP benefits based on their income and expenses.

To be eligible for benefits, a family's income and resources must meet the following three criteria:

• monthly income must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty line. For a family of three, the poverty line used to determine FY2022 SNAP benefits is $1830 per month. One hundred and thirty percent of that amount is $2379 per month, or about $28 per year;
• net income, which is household income after various deductions have been applied, must be at or below the federal poverty line;
• assets must meet certain thresholds. Families with no member aged 60 or with a disability must have assets of $2500 or less, and families with such a member must have assets of $3750 or less.

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What items can be purchased under the SNAP program

Foods that can be prepared at home are usually included in the SNAP program. Food that is sold ready-made does not participate.

According to the USDA, the following foods are eligible for SNAP:

• fruits and vegetables;
• meat, poultry and fish;
• dairy;
• bread and cereals;
• snacks and soft drinks;
• seeds and plants for cooking various dishes.

What you can't buy:

• beer, wine, spirits, cigarettes or tobacco;
• any non-food items such as: pet food, soap, paper products, household items, vitamins and medicines, food to be eaten in the store and hot food.

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What SNAP benefits are available in your state

Although SNAP is a federal program, benefits are administered by each state separately. This means that benefits are distributed inconsistently. While eligibility and benefit levels are the same in all states except Alaska and Hawaii, the way benefits are calculated can vary from state to state, according to the US Census Bureau. Official information for each state should be viewed on the official pages of the authorities.

For information on how to apply for food stamps in New York, read our material.

Here is a general look at the maximum and minimum benefits in each state:

• for the 48 states and Washington, DC, the maximum benefit for a family of four is $835 per month;
• in Alaska, a family of four can earn between $1074 and $1667 a month, depending on whether they are rural or urban;
• in Hawaii, the monthly limit is $1573 for a family of four;
• the minimum benefit is $20 in the District of Columbia, $40-$48 in Alaska, and $38 in Hawaii.

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