Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

E52959

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a U.S. federal assistance program that provides low-income individuals and families with monthly benefits to purchase food and improve their nutritional security.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf federal assistance program
food assistance program
social safety net program
acronym SNAP
administeredBy Food and Nutrition Service
United States Department of Agriculture
benefitCalculationBasis Thrifty Food Plan
benefitFrequency monthly
benefitMedium EBT card
benefitRestriction cannot be used for alcohol
cannot be used for hot prepared foods in most cases
cannot be used for nonfood items
cannot be used for tobacco
benefitType electronic benefits transfer
country United States
deliveryLevel state
eligibilityCriterion U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status
household income below specified threshold
resource limits
state residency
formerName Food Stamp Program
fundedBy federal government of the United States
implementedBy state agencies
intendedOutcome improved diet quality
reduced hunger
legalBasis Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
monitoredBy Food and Nutrition Service
policyArea food policy
public health
social welfare
primaryGoal improve nutritional security
reduce food insecurity
programLevel federal
provides monthly food benefits
relatedConcept food insecurity
nutrition assistance
relatedProgram National School Lunch Program
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
renamedFrom Food Stamp Program
renamingYear 2008
replaced paper food stamps
sector public sector
startYear 1960s
supervisedBy United States Congress
supports household food purchasing power
targetPopulation low-income families
low-income individuals
usedFor purchase of food


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