Food Stamps: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• Increasingly a very large program—some 45 million Americans (about 20 million households) received assistance in 2011.

• Averaged about 31 million a month in 2009.

• Currently about one in eight Americans receive food stamps.

• One in four children

• U.S. citizens and some legal aliens are eligible—mostly children and elderly.

• Open to almost all low-income families as long as they are citizens or in some cases legal aliens. Households may have no more than $2000 in assets; $3000 if a member of the household is elderly or disabled.

• Homes are exempt and vehicle rules vary by state.• The gross income of most households must be

130% or less of the poverty guidelines ($22,113 plus 30% or $28,747 for a family of 4 with two children in 2010).

• Net income must be below poverty line for family.• Able-bodied must meet work requirements.• Must have social security number.

Snap Recipients and Costs

Food Stamp Enrollment

Historically Food Stamp Recipients Have Had No Earned Income

• About 70% of households that received food stamps in 2010 had no earned income.

• 21% received Supplemental Security Income• 21.4% received Social Security• 8% received TANF• 20% had no cash income from any source• In recent years, a larger percentage of food

stamp households have included one or more employed adults.

• Average value of benefit was about $294 per household per month in 2011.

• Generally FS can only be used to purchase food. No alcohol, tobacco, soap, paper products, no medicine, no food to be eaten in stores, no hot food.

• Benefits are credited monthly to an EBT card—a debit card.

Benefits are Modest

• All benefits received are credited to the EBT—including food stamps, TANF, veteran benefits, SSI.

• In Texas it is called the Long Star Card.

• SNAP currently costs about $75 billion. • SNAP and other nutrition programs have make

severe hunger increasing rare in America.

Food Insecurity