❌ Myth: SNAP is only for families with children.
✅ Fact: You don't have to have children to get help with food. SNAP is open to anyone who is eligible. This includes people who live alone, older people, people who are unhoused, people who are disabled, as well as people with children.
❌ Myth: SNAP is not worth applying for because it only offers $23 a month in benefits.
✅ Fact: The amount of help you get from SNAP can be different for everyone. It depends on how many people are in your household and how much money your household makes. Some people get much more than $23 a month to help them buy food (see maximum monthly amounts here). Also, simply by receiving SNAP, you'll be eligible for other benefits and discounts.
❌ Myth: Applying for SNAP assistance will take food benefits away from others who need it.
✅ Fact: Everyone who is eligible for SNAP and enrolls in the program will receive help. When you apply for SNAP, you're not taking food away from someone else. You're just getting the benefits you deserve. If you're eligible, you should apply!
❌ Myth: I shouldn’t apply for assistance or seek help because of social stigma.
✅ Fact: You have likely paid for SNAP benefits via taxes and deserve to utilize them just like everyone else! You can take pride in knowing that you have paid into a system that helps us to care for each other. Just as people use Medicare, get a Child Tax Credit on their taxes, or use student aid to help pay for college; SNAP is a program that is there to make our lives better. In fact, every $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.54 in economic activity—making SNAP one of the most effective economic stimuli available! You can think of it as helping out the families around you, especially if you spend the money at locally owned stores or farmers markets. By using SNAP, you are bringing money to your community while improving you and your family’s health and well-being!
❌ Myth: Not many stores accept SNAP.
✅ Fact: Most grocery stores, supermarkets, and even some farmers markets let you use your SNAP card to buy food. Just look for a sign that says "EBT" or find stores that accept SNAP near you here.
❌ Myth: Applying for SNAP is too difficult.
✅ Fact: There are lots of ways to apply for SNAP—online, by mail, or in person. If you need assistance to apply, you can find a SNAP outreach program near you, or get help from your local office.
We try to make the process as easy as possible at mRelief! To see if you're likely eligible before you apply, you can take our quick 3 minute screener, find out how to apply, and find help if you need it.
❌ Myth: Those who receive SNAP don’t work.
✅ Fact: In fact, the majority of adults who receive SNAP who are not disabled or elderly ARE employed, but their income is still low enough to qualify. Other people may be disabled, elderly, caring for a child or someone who is disabled, or might have just lost their job. You can read more about work requirements here.
❌ Myth: Those who do not work and receive SNAP are able to work but are taking advantage of the system.
✅ Fact: If someone isn't working and gets SNAP, they might be older, have a disability, be caring for a young child, or be looking for a job but haven't found one yet. SNAP is there to help!
❌ Myth: SNAP is wasteful.
✅ Fact: Quite the opposite! In fact, for every dollar spent on SNAP, as much as $1.54 in economic activity is generated. This means that SNAP not only directly helps people with low-incomes buy food for their survival and well-being, but also helps neighborhoods and local economies grow and thrive!
One study even estimates that every dollar of SNAP invested in children returns $62 in value over the long-term!
❌ Myth: SNAP is rife with fraud and abuse.
✅ Fact: While a small amount of fraud can happen in any big program, most people who get SNAP use it correctly to buy food for themselves and their families. Individual fraud is quite rare. In fact, the USDA reports that over 99 percent of those receiving SNAP benefits are indeed eligible. The majority of SNAP fraud may be attributed to large-scale criminal organizations, not individuals receiving SNAP.
❌ Myth: I can’t get SNAP if I am working or receiving unemployment benefits.
✅ Fact: You absolutely can get SNAP, even if you are working or getting unemployment benefits! SNAP looks at your total income, and if it's below a certain amount, you can still get help with food.
❌ Myth: Undocumented immigrants are big beneficiaries of SNAP.
✅ Fact: No, immigrants who are undocumented are generally not eligible for SNAP. Only U.S. citizens and certain lawfully present non-citizens may receive SNAP benefit; such as refugees, those granted asylum, and lawful permanent residents who’ve been in the US for five years or more. Read more here. Keep in mind, applying for SNAP is not considered a public charge, so it will not affect your immigration status.
❌ Myth: If I’m not a citizen, I can’t apply for my family, even if my children are citizens.
✅ Fact: Someone who is undocumented can apply on behalf of their citizen children! If you are not a citizen and you’re applying for your citizen children, you do not need to disclose information about your own social security number or citizenship/immigration status. Keep in mind, applying for SNAP is not considered a public charge, so it will not affect your immigration status.
❌ Myth: I am not eligible for food stamps because I do not have an address.
✅ Fact: You can still get SNAP even if you don't have a permanent address. You can use a reliable mailing address, like a shelter, general delivery at your nearest post office, or even a friend's address, to receive your benefits.
❌ Myth: I cannot apply for SNAP benefits without a valid state-issued identification card.
✅ Fact: While it's helpful to have an ID, you usually don't need a state-issued ID card to apply for SNAP. Other things like a birth certificate, Social Security card, expired ID, or even a statement from someone who knows you can sometimes be used to prove who you are.
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