What Can You Buy With Food Stamps?
A federal program, food stamps help provide nutrition assistance to low-income families in the United States. In 2008, the program was renamed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, in order to help reduce some of the stigma associated with the name "food stamps."
Other People Are Reading
-
Eligible Food Items
-
You can purchase edible items such as breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry and dairy products. Seeds and plants which produce food can also be purchased with food stamps.
Non-eligible Items
-
Any alcoholic beverages or tobacco products cannot be purchased with food stamps. Other items that do not qualify are non-food items such as pet food, soaps, paper products, household supplies and vitamins/medicine. You also may not use food stamps to buy hot foods or foods eaten in-store.
-
How to Get Benefits
-
Each state has its own SNAP office at which you can apply for benefits. Income and family size are part of the application process.
EBT System
-
As of 2004, recipients who qualify no longer receive paper food stamps. Instead, they receive Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.
How Does EBT Work?
-
Every month, funds are electronically deposited into the recipient's account. Each recipient has a card, which is similar to a bank card, that is used to make food purchases.
-
