SNAP Overview: Purpose and General Guidelines

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), often called food stamps, is a federal program designed to combat hunger and food insecurity in the United States. Its primary purpose is to provide low-income individuals and families with financial assistance to purchase nutritious foods, helping them maintain a healthy diet.

SNAP benefits are distributed via an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card at authorized retailers. These retailers include most grocery stores, supermarkets, and some farmers markets. The amount of SNAP benefits a household receives is based on factors such as household size, income, and expenses.