What types of food can/cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits?
Allowed Foods:
Fruits and vegetables
Meat, poultry, and fish
Dairy products
Bread and cereals
Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
Seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat
Prohibited Foods:
Alcoholic beverages
Tobacco products
Vitamins, supplements, and other non-food items
Hot foods (unless they are prepared meals sold by a retailer)
Foods that will be eaten in the store
Pet food
Examples of other prohibited items:
Energy drinks: Some states have restrictions as they are considered to have minimal nutritional value.
Candy and sweets: Certain sweets may be restricted due to their low nutritional value.
Prepared foods: While SNAP allows for the purchase of certain prepared foods, such as deli items and rotisserie chickens, some states may have restrictions on the types of prepared foods that can be purchased with SNAP benefits.
Luxury foods: Some luxury foods, such as lobster and steak, may be considered non-essential items.
Non-food items: While SNAP is designed to help low-income individuals and families purchase food, it cannot be used to buy non-food items such as household supplies or personal care products.
NOTE: While certain types of food are allowed on SNAP, there may be restrictions on certain brands, sizes, or flavors. Some states have specific rules and regulations around SNAP purchases that may differ from federal guidelines.
What counts as income for SNAP eligibility?
SNAP considers cash income from all sources, including:
Earned income (before payroll tax deductions)
Unearned income, for example:
Cash assistance
Social security
Unemployment insurance
Child support
What is the “cash balance” or “cash benefits” on a member's SNAP EBT card?
If a member is seeing “cash balance” somewhere when checking their EBT card balance, that means that they may be receiving additional federal assistance from TANF. The terms “TANF benefits” and “cash balance” can be used interchangeably.
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is a federal assistance program in the United States that provides cash assistance to low-income families with dependent children. The program is intended to provide temporary financial assistance to families in need and to help them achieve self-sufficiency through work and other means. Utilization of TANF is typically limited to a maximum of five years. The program requires recipients to engage in work-related activities and to meet certain other requirements in order to continue to receive benefits.
Are the RDs “allowed” to screen-share when assisting with a SNAP application?
Yes, as long as consent is obtained and documented. This is the easiest way to go through the application with the patient and is the gold standard.
Can SNAP benefits be used at farmers markets?
Yes, SNAP benefits can be used to purchase eligible food items at participating farmers markets. Some markets also offer bonus incentives for SNAP users, such as matching funds or extra benefits for purchasing fruits and vegetables.
Some farmers markets require use of tokens, tickets, receipts, or another method vs. use of EBT card depending on what their payment system allows for. Typically, there will be an information booth patients can visit upon arrival to the market where they can ask questions.
How much money can a participant receive from SNAP each month?
Allotment will be determined based on household income, certain expenses, and number of members per household. To make the estimations, SNAP anticipates that most families spend 30 percent of their net income on food.
For households with NO net income: They receive the maximum benefit, which is tied to the cost of USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan (TFP).
For households WITH net income: monthly SNAP benefit equals the maximum benefit for that household size minus the household’s expected contribution of 30 percent of its net income.
Can you sign up pediatrics for SNAP?
SNAP for Pediatrics:
In most States, the applicant for snap must be 18 years of age or older. In some states under certain circumstances, individuals age 16 and up are able to apply for SNAP.
If you need to help a pediatric patient who is food insecure and cannot apply themselves given their age and/or ability, please follow the below steps:
1. Schedule the SNAP appointment (f/u visit for 1 hour) under your pediatric patient’s name.
At time of scheduling, PLEASE inform the child and their main caregiver (the person who provides their food in the home or head or household) that they both MUST attend the SNAP appointment to proceed.
This is due to billing requirements for us to provide services.
NOTE: During the appointment, the child needs to be present, but does not need to actively participate.
Example: the child should not be at school or at a friend’s house while the caregiver is at home for the appointment. They can play in the living room while the caregiver fills the form out in the kitchen with the RD, but they must be in the same general place.
2. When filling out SNAP application, the RD will fill out the forms using the name and information of the caregiver, NOT the pediatric patient.
Even though the pediatric patient is your primary concern, we know that helping the household improves nutrition for the child given they cannot care for themselves.
Signing up for SNAP helps the entire household and in turn improves the child’s nutrition
How can I correct a mistake made on my SNAP application?
Contact their local DSS/SNAP office and provide the correct information.
How is the monthly SNAP benefit calculated for households with and without net income?
Information on income eligibility is located here.
How can I report suspected fraud or abuse in the SNAP program?
Complaints can be submitted directly to the USDA or to individual state departments. A list of contact information is located here.
What should I do if I receive an overpayment notice from SNAP?
Contact your local DSS/SNAP office for further instructions.
What is the purpose of SNAP, and how does it provide financial assistance for purchasing food to low-income individuals and families?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, is a federal nutrition assistance program that provides low-income individuals and families with financial assistance to purchase food. The program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and provides monthly benefits to eligible participants. SNAP benefits can be used to purchase a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and bread products. The program also provides nutrition education to help participants make healthy choices and stretch their food dollars.
How does SNAP differ from WIC, and what are the specific purposes and eligibility criteria for each program?
While both programs provide assistance for purchasing food, WIC, which stands for Women, Infants, and Children. WIC is a federal assistance program that is specifically designed to support the nutritional needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5. WIC benefits are provided in the form of a monthly food “package” provided on a WIC EBT card. The food allotment/contents to purchase varies depending on the participant's age, gender, and nutritional needs. For example, pregnant women typically receive more food than non-pregnant women, and infants receive different foods than toddlers. WIC uses income eligibility guidelines which you can find here if needed.
Participants can use their WIC benefits at authorized grocery stores and retailers that accept WIC. They can purchase the specific foods included in their food package using a WIC EBT, which is loaded with a monthly benefit amount. Unlike SNAP, WIC is more limited; participants can use it to purchase only the specific foods and quantities listed on their food package.
WIC benefits are intended to supplement a participant's diet with healthy foods, and they are not meant to cover all of their food needs, unlike SNAP which has broader eligibility requirements. Participants are encouraged to continue to purchase other nutritious foods not included in their WIC package with their own funds. Participants can be on both the SNAP and WIC program simultaneously if application is approved.
How does SNAP differ from state to state, and what flexibility do states have in administering the program?
While SNAP is a federal program, it is administered at the state level. This means that eligibility requirements and benefit amounts can vary from state to state. States also have some flexibility in how they administer the program, which can result in differences in how benefits are distributed and how participants are required to meet program requirements.