Key Points
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nutrition assistance to eligible, low-income individuals and households via a monthly benefit on an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, similar to a debit card, which can be used at authorized retailer stores to purchase food.
- The federal government pays the full cost of SNAP benefits and splits the cost of administering the program with the states, which operate it.
- SNAP operates in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, but not in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
- Each state designs its own SNAP application process, following federal guidelines. People may apply in person at the local SNAP office or mail their applications.
- Eligibility is determined through a SNAP benefit formula.
FIM Opportunities
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal nutrition assistance program that provides food-purchasing assistance for low- and no-income persons to help them maintain adequate nutrition and health.
Health care systems can play an important role in screening and referring patients to SNAP.
