The 3 Most Common Questions About SNAP/Food Stamps

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can take a load off of your back by giving you funds each month for food. It can save the day if you’ve been having income issues or trouble finding employment, but before you apply, here are some basics you should know.

1. How can you qualify for SNAP benefits?

In an ideal world, everyone would get food stamps to ensure their family’s nutritional needs are met. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, as you’ll need to meet specific requirements to receive SNAP benefits.

When calculating SNAP eligibility, your income (gross and net) and resources are considered. Gross income includes whatever money you bring in from such sources as work, pensions, disability payments, or veterans’ benefits.

You can use deductions to produce a net income that meets SNAP standards. For instance, you can deduct such expenses as child support, child care, certain medical expenses, utility costs, etc. In most cases, your gross and net income will have to meet SNAP requirements to be eligible.

Resources, on the other hand, include things like checking or savings accounts, an extra car, etc. Your home is not considered a resource.

Beyond exceeding income and resource limits, the following may keep you from receiving food stamps:

• Having a felony conviction for drugs
• Being a college student (exceptions may apply)
• Being an undocumented immigrant

Depending on your local office, you may also have to meet work requirements if you are not disabled.

If you feel like you may qualify for SNAP and would like to begin the application process, go here to find your nearest office. Besides helping you apply, they can fill you in on your state’s SNAP eligibility requirements.

2. Where can you use SNAP benefits?

The use of SNAP has become widespread over time. Since you can receive SNAP funds on an EBT card, there’s also less stigma in using these benefits than in the past when food stamps were in play.

As for where you can buy food using your SNAP benefits, you’ll have to visit a participating store. To find specific stores in your area that accept SNAP, go here to use the SNAP Retailer Locator.

Once the locator map appears, simply enter your address or zip code in the appropriate field. You can adjust the range of results according to miles if you don’t want to venture too far out to use your food stamps. With your data entered, you will see a list of every store in the area that accepts food stamps so you can purchase accepted items with confidence.

3. What can you buy with SNAP?

As you can tell by its name, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is intended to offer food assistance. As such, you won’t be able to use SNAP benefits on things like beer, wine, cigarettes, vitamins, cleaning supplies, or other non-food items.

On the flip side, you can use your SNAP benefits for food for your household, which includes such staples as meat, fish, chicken, fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, bread, cereals, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, etc.