The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, is a federally funded program that provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families. SNAP is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is the largest nutrition assistance program in the country. In 2020, SNAP provided benefits to over 42 million people in the United States.
SNAP benefits can be used to purchase food at authorized retail stores. SNAP benefits are not cash, and they cannot be used to purchase alcohol, tobacco, or other non-food items. SNAP benefits are distributed through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which work like debit cards. SNAP is an important program that helps low-income individuals and families put food on the table. SNAP benefits can help to improve food security, reduce hunger, and promote healthy eating.