The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP and often still called food stamps, helps people with low incomes buy groceries. Benefits are loaded each month onto an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that works like a debit card at most grocery stores, many farmers markets and some online retailers. SNAP is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but each state runs its own application process, which is why the details can look different depending on where you live.
Quick facts
- Who it helps: households with limited income and resources, including working families, older adults, people with disabilities and people between jobs.
- Where to apply: your state or county SNAP agency, usually online, by mail, by phone or in person.
- Cost to apply: free.
- Timing: agencies generally must decide within 30 days. Households with very little money or income may qualify for expedited service, with benefits available within about 7 days.
Who may qualify
Eligibility depends on your household size, income, certain expenses and, in some cases, resources such as savings. Your household is generally the people who live together and buy and prepare food together. Under the federal baseline, most households must have gross monthly income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level, and net income (after allowed deductions) at or below 100 percent. Households with an older adult or a person with a disability follow somewhat different tests, and many states use broader rules that let more working families qualify.
Rules about work requirements and about eligibility for some non-citizens have changed in recent years and can vary by state, so please confirm the current rules with your state agency rather than relying on an old chart. A quick conversation with the agency is the most reliable way to find out. You do not have to be certain you qualify to apply, and the agency decides, not you.
What to gather before you apply
- Photo ID or other proof of identity for the applicant.
- Proof of income for everyone in the household, such as recent pay stubs, a benefits letter or a self-employment record.
- Proof of housing costs, such as a lease or mortgage statement, and recent utility bills.
- Records of childcare costs and, for older adults or people with disabilities, out-of-pocket medical costs.
- Social Security numbers for household members who are applying for benefits.
If you are missing a document, apply anyway. The agency can usually help you verify information, and the date you apply can affect when your benefits start.
How to apply, step by step
- Find your state agency. USDA keeps a SNAP State Directory with the website and phone number for each state.
- Submit an application. Most states accept online applications, and you can also apply by mail, fax or in person at a local office. A short application with just your name, address and signature can start the clock.
- Complete an interview. Most applicants have a brief interview, often by phone. Have your documents nearby. If you miss the call, contact the office right away to reschedule.
- Provide verification. The caseworker will tell you which documents are still needed and the deadline to send them.
- Receive your decision. You will get a notice explaining whether you were approved, your monthly benefit and your certification period. If approved, your EBT card arrives by mail or is issued at the office.
What you can buy
SNAP can be used for most foods you prepare at home, including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread and cereals, and for seeds and plants that grow food. It cannot be used for alcohol, tobacco, vitamins and supplements, pet food, hot prepared foods or non-food items such as soap and paper goods. Some states let older adults, people with disabilities and people experiencing homelessness use benefits at approved restaurants through the Restaurant Meals Program.
Tips for a smoother experience
- Ask about expedited service if your household has almost no cash and very little income.
- Report changes on time. Changes in income, household size or address may need to be reported within a set period.
- Do not miss your recertification. Benefits end when the certification period does unless you renew. Watch your mail and any text or email alerts.
- You can appeal. If you are denied or disagree with the amount, your notice explains how to request a fair hearing and the deadline to do so.
- Look for matching programs. Some farmers markets and states offer extra produce dollars when you spend SNAP benefits there. Ask your agency or market manager.
Other food help to combine with SNAP
SNAP works best alongside other support. If you have young children or are pregnant, see our WIC guide. For immediate groceries while you wait for a decision, read how to find free food near you. For more ways to stretch a budget, see practical ways to cut monthly bills.
Official sources
How SNAP differs from WIC and food banks
SNAP is a monthly benefit loaded onto an EBT card, and the household chooses which eligible groceries to buy. That choice is the main difference from the other food help described below.
WIC provides a specific food package, with nutrition advice, for pregnant people, new parents, infants and children under five, as described in our related guide. It serves a narrower group than SNAP and covers a narrower set of foods, and it can be used alongside SNAP.
Food banks, pantries and community meals give groceries or meals directly, usually straight away and without a monthly benefit decision. They are the best option while you wait for a SNAP decision, or when you need food today, but they do not replace a regular monthly benefit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply if I work? Yes. Working families are among those SNAP helps, and eligibility depends on household size, income, expenses and resources, so the agency, not the applicant, decides.
What if I am not sure I qualify? Apply anyway. You do not have to be certain you qualify to apply, and the agency decides.
What if a document is missing? Apply anyway, and send what the caseworker asks for by the deadline given.
What if I am denied? Read the notice, check whether documents were missing, and ask for a fair hearing by the deadline in the notice.
Can I use SNAP online? At some online retailers, as noted in the introduction. Check with your state agency which retailers take part.
How this guide was researched and reviewed
The Low-Cost Finder Editorial Team prepares content from official agency and established nonprofit sources, checks it against those sources, and explains it in plain language. It is reviewed before publication and revisited when programmes change.